Under-21: Casadei and the young Biancazzurri shackle Romania, who only double their lead at the death

The Under-21 National Team opens its run of home fixtures with a match of huge commitment and fighting spirit, producing a high-level defensive performance against one of the most fancied sides in the group. Romania came into the game hungry for a win after a stumble in their opener. They scored once in each half – the second almost at the death. They went in search of more, relying more on individual talent than on the collective movement shown by Finland. On many occasions they ran into the well-organised Titans; on others, into a Superman version of Jacopo Casadei.

There is no shortage of full debuts at the Stadium either. There are three in the starting XI, all players who were not in the squad for Turku: Montali, Domeniconi and Della Balda. The visitors need very little time to bring Jacopo Casadei into the game, the keeper ultra-reactive to Rădăslăvescu’s close-range strike. Burnete could then pounce on the rebound, but the Biancazzurri defence is quick to close down the Romanian centre-forward. A few minutes later, from the same flank – the left – Busi bursts forward, cuts back from the byline and tries to catch out Casadei at the near post, but the keeper is again alert. It leads to a corner on which Tudose rises completely unmarked: fortunately for the Titans, the defender’s header drifts wide. On 8 minutes Rădăslăvescu tries a curling effort from the edge of the box that makes Jacopo Casadei fly: thunderous applause rains down from the Stadium stands for the number 12’s stunning one-handed save. Romania, however, do not ease off and take the lead on 11 minutes. Cervellini slips in the build-up and Rădăslăvescu nicks the ball off him. The number 10 skips past Zavoli but loses the moment for the shot; he does not, however, miss the timing for the pass to Biliboc, who from a prime position unleashes a powerful diagonal strike that this time leaves Jacopo Casadei with no chance. The match then cools down in phases. Romania do not play at great tempo, while the Titans keep their lines tight and concentration high. Romania reappear on 21 minutes with another header from Tudose from a corner, again off target. Then Chiaruzzi, all strength and tenacity, wins a free-kick in an advanced but very wide position. Enea Della Balda floats it into the box, where the visiting rearguard comes out on top. Towards the end of the half Romania spark back into life, albeit intermittently. Tudose shields the ball in the area and lays it off for Szimionaș, who shoots while falling and hits the post. Then, from a free-kick, Dutu adjusts his body for a bicycle-kick of real quality, stylish and effective: but Jacopo Casadei is guarding the near post. In the closing minutes Rădăslăvescu – a left-footed effort from the edge that shaves the post – also goes close, as does Tudose, once more dangerous in the scrambles: the number 6 manages to get a shot away in a crowded box, but his right-footer – not well angled – does not surprise Casadei.

The second half begins with another superhero intervention from Jacopo Casadei: Ciubotaru picks out a perfect long ball for Burnete’s run, the striker looks certain to score but sees his finish blocked by the home keeper, outstanding in judging both the timing and manner of his outing. Romania are not a battering ram, but their bursts – less frequent than at the start of the first half – are always frightening. Just after the hour, Ciubotaru bursts clear down the left and from the byline pulls the ball back for Pop: the substitute arrives like a train and hammers it ferociously at the near post. There, a sensational reflex save – going the wrong way – from Casadei once again leaves Romania cursing. And draws another round of applause from the stands, while his team-mates smother their keeper with hugs: it is not as if he had scored a goal, but it is as if he had scored one with a spectacular overhead kick. From the resulting corner Trică powers in a header, but from an offside position. In other words: it is not over. As Cecchetti sends on fresh legs in Ciacci and Marco Gasperoni, then Tamagnini, Arlotti and Marco Casadei, Romania continue their hunt for a second goal. Ciubotaru, hugely inspired after the break, carries the ball for several metres before unleashing a powerful left-footer that flies over. For the Titans, counter-attacking plans remain hard to execute, but the defence continues to stand up superbly to the visitors’ assaults, which grow less and less incisive. Yet, late on, Curelea’s side still manage to find a way to double their lead. Great credit goes to Pop, who weaves past a couple of opponents and then plays the ball inside to Trică: the centre-forward shrugs off his marker with his first touch and, one-on-one with Jacopo Casadei, cannot miss – and does not miss. At the start of stoppage time, Tamagnini’s pressing forces a rattled Tudose to concede a corner, the first for the Titans. Marco Casadei takes it: his whipped delivery flashes across the penalty area without any team-mate able to get a touch. At the back, however, there are no more scares. The result is duly brought home, giving the Romanians their first win and allowing Cecchetti’s lads to sign off from this opening double-header with growing levels of belief and awareness.

Under-21, Euro 2027 qualifiers | San Marino – Romania 0-2

SAN MARINO (5-3-2)

J. Casadei; S. Gasperoni, Domeniconi, Zavoli (68’ Ciacci), Montali, Bugli; Chiaruzzi, Cervellini (82’ M. Casadei), Della Balda (82’ Arlotti); Canarezza (68’ M. Gasperoni), Protti (76’ Tamagnini)

Substitutes: Borasco, Sammaritani, Molinari, Riccardi

Head coach: Matteo Cecchetti

ROMANIA (4-1-4-1)

Lefter; Strata (82’ Țuțu), Dutu, Tudose, Ciubotaru; Boțogan (72’ Vulturar); Biliboc, Szimionaș, Rădăslăvescu (72’ Vermeșan), Musi (59’ Pop); Burnete (59’ Trică)

Substitutes: Rafailă, Jalade, Pașcalău, Rădulescu

Head coach: Costin Romeo Curelea

Referee: Antoine Chiaramonti (AND)

Assistant referees: Juan Guiu Serra and Carlos Gonçalves (AND)

Fourth official: Andreu Simarro

Booked: Bugli, Canarezza, Boțogan, Ciacci

Scorers: 11’ Biliboc, 87’ Trică