Italy 1-2 Belarus
Kirenkin (B) 6, A Hleb (B) 44, Gilardino (I) 58
Italy’s U-21 European Championship campaign got off to the worst possible start as Daniele Bonera was sent-off in a 2-1 defeat to Belarus.
The Azzurrini went into the event as one of the favourites but they now have a mountain to climb to even qualify from their Group.
Coach Claudio Gentile opted for a more solid 4-4-2 to start the tournament which saw Roma starlet Gaetano D’Agostino relegated to the bench for a more robust midfield. His club colleague Daniele De Rossi was also left out given his recent physical problems.
The side was still full of a host of the players who proved crucial in qualification such as Daniele Bonera, captain Matteo Brighi and star striker Alberto Gilardino - who just missed out on a place in Giovanni Trapattoni’s Euro 2004 squad.
Gentile spoke before the game that he feared Belarus and he was proved right within six minutes. They took advantage of a nervous Italian start to go one up after Kirenkin beat Gilardino in the air to head home a corner.
It took the Azzurrini around 20 minutes to settle and, after Belarus looked dangerous again, Italy finally created a real opportunity to level the scores. Sculli was played in but with only the ‘keeper to beat he incredibly fired wide of goal.
Donadel, Gilardino and Zaccardo all had half chances before Italy went within inches of an equaliser. Pinzi did well on the right wing and his cross beat the ‘keeper but Gilardino’s header finished on the roof of the net. A Sculli header then forced Belarus ‘keeper Zhaunou into a fine flying save on 40 minutes.
The leveller seemed on the cards but Italian fans were left stunned on the stroke of half time. The highly talented and dangerous Alexander Hleb took advantage of a quick counter attack to strike home a beautiful 22-yard low strike past the hapless Amelia.
Gentile changed his midfield in the second half with the introduction at various stages of D’Agostino, Mesto and De Rossi. The half-time oranges did seem to pep up the Italians as Sculli went close again before the side got back into the game.
Mesto settled in well on the right and his inch perfect cross was met by Gilardino’s superb glancing header as he made it 2-1. The peninsula youngsters increased the pressure but there was no way past a rather defensive Belarus side.
Gilardino again proved a danger with his head but is was Belarus substitute Suchkov who almost increased his side’s lead on two separate occasions.
To make matters worse, Bonera was harshly sent off in injury time. He was dismissed for leading with an elbow in an aerial challenge but TV replays suggest he struck his opponent accidentally with his head and not his arm.
Italy: Amelia; Zaccardo, Bonera, Barzagli, Moretti; Pinzi (De Rossi 80), Donadel, Brighi (Mesto 56), Del Nero (D'Agostino 51); Gilardino, Sculli
Belarus: Zhaunou; Baha, Tarasenka, Kirenkin, Pankavets (Suchkov 63); Kalachev, Molash, Shkabara, V Hleb (Kantsavy 64); A Hleb (Sokal 83), Kornilenko
Ref: Messias (Eng)
Sent -off: Bonera (I) 92
....
Gila - :thumb:
Bonnie -
Buy on AliExpress.com
