Italy maintained their 100 per cent qualifying record by beating the Republic of Ireland, despite Federico Bernardeschi’s red card.
Italy maintained their 100 per cent qualifying record by beating the Republic of Ireland, despite Federico Bernardeschi’s red card.
The Azzurrini had won both their qualifiers so far, beating Slovenia 1-0 and 3-0, while Ireland topped the group going in with a perfect record of nine points from three games. Gigi Di Biagio seemed to adopt the same 4-2-4 approach as senior Italy Coach Antoni Conte, using Kingsley Boateng and Federico Bernardeschi as extremely attacking wingers. Atalanta striker Gaetano Monachello earned a start after scoring twice in Slovenia as a substitute.
Despite this system, there were precious few chances in the first half. The only genuine save was performed by Alessio Cragno on a splendid Jack Byrne curler.
Di Biagio seems to have a way with substitutes and it worked again, as Perugia starlet Vittorio Parigini came off the bench to open the scoring just five minutes later. He ran on to a chipped Bernardeschi assist and held off Sean Long to drill right-footed past Daniel Rogers.
Fiorentina forward Bernardeschi foolishly kicked the ball away and received a second yellow card to leave his squad down to 10 men at Vicenza’s Stadio Romeo Menti.
Sean Kavanagh missed a good opportunity to draw the Republic of Ireland level, as did Dylan Connolly within a minute of stepping on to the field.
Even down to 10 men, Italy threatened to double their lead in stoppages with Rolando Mandragora firing inches wide from a Parigini counter.
Italy 1-0 Rep of Ireland
Scorers: Parigini 66 (I)
Italy U-21: Cragno; Conti, Rugani, Romagnoli, Murru; Cataldi, Mandragora; Bernardeschi, Monachello (Garritano 89), Cerri (Parigini 61), Boateng (Calabria 75)
Republic of Ireland U-21: Rogers; Long, Rea, Lenihan, Connors; O'Dowda, Browne, Cullen, Kavanagh (Maguire 85); J Byrne (Connolly 86); Wilkinson
Ref: Aghayev (AZE)
Sent off: Bernardeschi 70 (I)
Image via @vivo_azzurro