U17 Euro: Italy pull away after the break

Reigning European champions Italy are the first opponents for San Marino’s Under-17 national team in their home qualifying mini-tournament. Coach Bonesso loses Colombini in the warm-up and is forced into a last-second change to his starting XI: on comes Stefani, who takes his place in the middle of the back three, completed by the "braccetti" Zavoli (right) and Montali (left). Italy look to take control of the game from the off, but run into the excellent defensive organisation of the young Titani. The Azzurrini need a set piece to break the deadlock. From the corner flag, Luongo swings the ball into the area of Reggiani, who whips it superbly towards the far post, planting it right under the bar. A few minutes later, from another corner, Pirrò controls on the edge of the box and lashes a powerful effort just over the bar. San Marino respond with grit. Grandoni wins an aerial duel with Reggiani and then muscles his way past Prisco, before driving a ball into the middle of the area that strikes Insignito on the arm. The referee waves away the appeals for a penalty, to the evident disbelief of the home crowd and players. Italy immediately push back upfield, threatening twice through Wiafe, who first sends a header just too high and then, from the edge of the box, curls a delightful right-footed effort that shaves the far post, both in its build-up and execution. In between comes a left-footed free-kick from Borasio on the edge of the area, the ball finishing just the wrong side of the post. This spell of sustained attacking pressure finally pays off for Italy. San Marino lose the ball playing out from the back and Luongo is quick to recycle it for Campaniello, who has time to bring it under control before firing home from close range. The last moment of note in the first half is again Italian: Pirrò tees up Borasio to shoot from distance with his right, the midfielder trying to place it inside Cenci’s left-hand post, only for the home keeper to produce a fine, flying save. As the teams emerge for the second half, Canarezza replaces Molinari for San Marino. Italy boss Massimiliano Favo responds with a triple substitution. One of the Azzurri newcomers, Blini, is the first to threaten after the restart. Giani whips in a driven cross for number 14, who rises highest and sends his header inches wide of the post. Shortly after the introductions of Sammaritani and Arlotti, Italy knock on Cenci’s door again with a left-foot volley from Campaniello that proves straightforward for the San Marino keeper. Overall, though, Italy are even more in control of possession and territory than in the first half. San Marino struggle to break out, allowing Favo’s side to steadily increase the intensity of their attacks. After Luongo flashes a powerful right-footed drive from distance just off target, the Azzurrini make it 3-0 on the counter, with Blini releasing Damiano, who surges into the box and has the composure to square for Campaniello to sweep the ball home comfortably for his second of the game. Italy continue to hem San Marino inside their own half and, on 65 minutes, win a free-kick on the edge of the area. Comotto’s effort hits the wall, but he is first back onto the loose ball and drills in a low left-footer that Cenci tips behind for a corner. From another corner, on 70 minutes, comes the 4-0 goal, headed in by Blini from Prisco’s delivery. A few minutes later, a move involving two substitutes produces the fifth: Steffanoni and Comotto combine down the flank, the latter crossing to the middle for Damiano, who shifts the ball onto his right before thundering it into the far corner. A deserved reward for number 20, one of Italy’s liveliest performers since coming on. At this stage Bonesso makes his final changes, sending on Baldazzi and, shortly afterwards, Pala. Italy do not ease off and the closing stages are when Cenci shines the most. The San Marino keeper is not overly troubled by Damiano’s low shot, but his subsequent interventions on Blini and Comotto are worthy of top marks. First, Italian number 14 breaks free inside the box, but Cenci is lightning quick and brave, diving at his feet to claim ball and man. Then Campaniello heads against the crossbar and, from the rebound, Comotto looks certain to score from point-blank range, only to be denied by Cenci’s feline reflexes, earning the home keeper warm applause from the entire Acquaviva crowd. On other occasions, it is a touch of wayward finishing from the Italian forwards that spares San Marino further damage: Comotto fires over from 15 metres, while Campaniello, completely unmarked in the six-yard box, heads wide and misses the chance to complete his hat-trick. A deflected shot from Damiano that drifts just centimetres past the post is the final snapshot of a contest that leaves Italy top of the group, level on points with Norway but with a significantly better goal difference. That is because the Scandinavian side do beat Wales, but only by a single goal, and they even flirt with throwing away a commanding lead after going 4-1 up. Norway lead 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Holster-Karlsen and Krosa. After the restart Renshusløkken makes it 3-0, before Wales pull one back from the spot through Bradbury. Norway initially respond well, restoring a three-goal cushion when Krosa strikes again. Yet at 4-1 down Wales find a reaction that allows them to claw it back to 4-3, with goals from Heywood and Allmark, and still 12 minutes plus stoppage time to play. However, that remaining time brings no further twists. On Friday Italy face Wales in Montecchio and Norway take on San Marino in Acquaviva, both kicking off at 11:00. The second of those fixtures will be shown live on Titani.TV.

---

U17 Euro 2025 – Qualifying Round | Italy – San Marino 5-0   ITALY Nava; Insignito (46' Steffani), Iddrisa, Reggiani, Giani; Luongo (80' Rodella), Prisco, Borasio (64' Comotto); Pirrò (46' Blini), Wiafe (46' Damiano), Campaniello Substitutes: Maran, Bovio Head coach: Massimiliano Favo SAN MARINO Cenci; Zavoli (57' Sammaritani), Stefani, Montali; Tamagnini, Pennacchini (57' Arlotti), Meloni, Bucchi, Terni (79' Pala); Molinari (46' Canarezza), Grandoni (75' Baldazzi) Substitutes: Conti, Guidi, De Biagi Head coach: Alessandro Loris Bonesso   Referee: Jovan Kachevski (MKD) Assistant referees: Branko Putilin (MKD) and Michal Volf (CZE) Fourth official: Ladislav Szikszay (CZE) Booked: Prisco, Tamagnini Scorers: 8' Reggiani, 33' and 65' Campaniello, 70' Blini, 75' Damiano

---