Under-21: Italy win at the Stadium, inspired by Willy Gnonto

Thirty-four years on, it is San Marino v Italy once again in Under-21 qualifying. Italy add Juventus midfielder Miretti to their list of absentees, while Roma’s Bove is at the Stadium but only in the stands, not fully fit. Matteo Cecchetti, meanwhile, is forced to do without D’Addario, who picked up a knock in the eve-of-match training session. Gasperoni is called up in his place. With a chance to go top of the group, Italy immediately show their urgency to put the game on the right track. After not even four minutes, Volpato is denied by the crossbar, which repels his close-range effort from the edge of the six-yard box after a perfect assist from Gnonto. Moments later Casadei tries his luck with a powerful strike from the edge of the box which, deflected, goes behind. It brings a corner, taken by Volpato: the ball drops into the middle of the area where Pirola times his leap perfectly and his header gives Amici no chance. The Azzurrini continue to press in search of a second goal, but they have to contend with San Marino’s defensive organisation. Cecchetti’s side double up very well, but lack the opportunities to break forward. After the quarter-hour mark, Gnonto uses his pace to reach the edge of the area and unleash a left-footer that Amici deals with smartly. Shortly afterwards, Volpato tries from virtually the same spot: again the home keeper is equal to it. On 24 minutes Italy have a big chance to double their lead, with a cross from Calafiori and a twisting header from Casadei in the box, unmarked but off target. Nunziata’s men are rewarded for their efforts on the half-hour mark, when Calafiori bursts down the left flank and delivers a pinpoint cross to the far post for Esposito. The La Spezia forward nods the ball back across for Casadei, who misses the touch, but lurking just behind him is Gnonto, perfectly placed to turn the ball into the net despite Matteoni’s attempted clearance on the line. San Marino try to react by scrapping for every ball. Rastelli does well to win a free kick in the opposition half. Contadini takes it, but fails to whip his cross into the box properly, allowing Desplanches to come out and claim. In the closing stages of the half Italy go back to attacking down the flanks: the tireless Calafiori steps up a couple of gears and plays inside for Esposito, who quickly feeds the unmarked Gnonto: the Leeds player opens up his body and slots past Amici into the corner, putting Italy three up and taking his personal tally to two for the night. Before the interval there is time for another free kick in favour of the San Marino national team, cleverly worked to release Contadini down the flank: the captain arrives on cue to meet Zannoni’s pass, but loses his balance as he attempts the cross. Italy also threaten again – and dangerously – before the half-time whistle. N’Dour conjures a pass for Volpato, who breaks into the box and takes the ball around Amici: his shot is cleared off the line by a sensational – and heroic – recovery from Giambalvo, who injures himself as he crashes into the post. At the restart Nunziata introduces Fabbian and Turricchia for Casadei and Zanotti. Italy fly out of the blocks and add to their lead after just 40 seconds thanks to Volpato’s breakaway on a pass from Calafiori: this time the Azzurri playmaker makes no mistake one-on-one with Amici. A few minutes later comes yet another cross from Calafiori, this time for Fabbian: the understanding between the two Bologna players proves perfect and the number 14 in blue can easily tuck the ball in at the far post, making it 5-0. One of Gnonto’s last sparks – he is the standout performer on the pitch – earns Italy a penalty, as he is pulled back by Matteoni in the box. Esposito steps up and sends Amici the wrong way from the spot. Matteo Cecchetti also begins to turn to his bench, bringing on Zavoli and Santi, the former making his Under-21 debut and the latter returning from injury. Santi immediately looks to impress with a fine solo run that takes him to the edge of the Italy penalty area: he then lays the ball off to Sensoli, who fires over from a position that is anyway flagged offside. Cecchetti then replaces Toccaceli with Gasperoni, while Italy become dangerous again with two chances in quick succession: first Amici saves superbly from N’Dour’s fierce strike, then Calafiori’s left-footed effort drifts wide after a neat one-two with Esposito. The Azzurri add to the scoreline through Bianco, whose low, angled drive into the corner finally beats Amici, who at the start of the same move had produced an excellent reflex save to deny Ambrosino, on in the meantime for Gnonto. To be fair, Esposito’s position looked suspect on the Reggiana midfielder’s winning strike. N’Dour has another go at Amici’s goal, opting this time purely for power: the shot flies over. In the meantime it is also time for the debut of Tommaso Benvenuti, class of 2006, thrown into the fray in place of captain Contadini. In the same break in play, Dolcini comes on for Rastelli. Esposito finds the net with a diagonal finish, but this time the assistant’s flag is raised. Italy keep their foot on the accelerator right to the end, going close again through Ambrosino, whose curling effort finishes inches wide of the post. The match finishes with a scoreline that allows Italy to go temporarily top of the group, pending tomorrow’s game between the Republic of Ireland and Norway. San Marino now enter a break that will end on 22 March with another home fixture, against the Republic of Ireland, before travelling to Norway four days later.

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Under 21, European Under-21 Championship 2025 qualifying | San Marino – Italy 0-7   SAN MARINO Amici; Giambalvo (from 61' Zavoli), Matteoni, M. Pasolini; Giocondi, Rastelli (from 81' Dolcini), Zannoni, Toccaceli (from 70' Gasperoni), Contadini (from 81' Benvenuti); Sensoli, Famiglietti (from 61' Santi) Substitutes: Battistini, Sancisi, Renzi, F. Pasolini Head coach: Matteo Cecchetti   ITALY Desplanches; Zanotti (from 46' Turricchia), Ghilardi, Pirola (from 62' Guarino), Calafiori; Casadei (from 46' Fabbian), Prati (from 57' Bianco), N'Dour; Volpato, Gnonto (from 73' Ambrosino), Esposito Substitutes: Zacchi, Coppola, Koleosho, Fazzini Head coach: Carmine Nunziata Referee: Joni Hyytiä (FIN) Assistant referees: Sami Nykänen and Veli-Matti Leppänen (FIN) Fourth official: Antti Munukka (FIN) Booked: Matteoni, Gasperoni, Santi Scorers: 5' Pirola, 30' and 39' Gnonto, 46' Volpato, 53' Fabbian, 62' pen. Esposito, 83' Bianco

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