- David Wilson
- Fri, Nov 12 2021
David Wilson reports from Tallaght Stadium
The Republic of Ireland face an uphill task to qualify for their first ever UEFA European under-21 championship as they were defeated 2-0 by Italy in front of 2,161 in Tallaght on Friday evening.
Goals from Lorenzo Lucca and Matteo Cancellieri gave the Azzurini all three points on a bitterly cold evening in Dublin 24.
Ireland had started the game well. Conor Noß occupying the number ten position looked to receive the ball between the lines while Will Smallbone provided width on the right.
The Azzurini have qualified for the finals thirteen times out of fifteen and are joint record winners of the competition with five wins, and they showed their pedigree in Tallaght.
Italy found their rhythm early as they played out well from the back and managed to find spaces despite Ireland trying to flood the midfield.
In the 12th minute they nearly took the lead, a cross from full-back Raoul Bellanova found Emanuel Vignato whose acrobatic volley just went wide of Brian Maher’s near post.
The Italians began to dominate possession and pin Ireland in their own defensive third. Samuele Ricci and Salvatore Esposito shot from distance without truly worrying Maher.
It was on the half hour mark that disaster struck for the home side. An Italian move down the right saw the ball find the feet of Nicoló Rovella who hit a dipping cross that caused Jake O’Brien all sorts of problems.
The Corkman couldn’t clear and found himself on the ground; Lorenzo Lucca reacted spritely and slid to divert the ball home from eight yards out.
Italy continued in the ascendancy, the impressive Vignato shot from the edge of the box after Joel Bagan gave the ball away, but it whistled past the post.
The highly rated Colm Whelan struggled to impose himself on the game as Ireland continued to fail to keep the ball in attacking areas.
The second half continued the way of the first; the Italian front three of Lorenzo Colombo, Vignato and Lucca continued to rotate and cause the Irish defenders headaches. Left full-back Andrea Cambiaso whistled a volley over the bar which had Maher scrambling.
Gavin Kilkenny and Conor Coventry failed to influence the game from the back of midfield while both Irish full backs Lee O’Connor and Bagan offered nothing in an attacking sense.
Rovella continued to show why Juventus paid €18 million for him last January. He danced by a couple of defenders before playing a one-two with Lucca before stinging the fingertips of Maher from 25yards out.
Italy were provided a platform to play the game on their terms as the excellent Salvatore Esposito dictated the game from the back of midfield. Ireland could not press in a cohesive manner for much of the game.
Joshua Kayode and Festy Ebosele tried to reinvigorate a pedestrian Ireland side, but Italy dealt accordingly.
Bohemians’ duo Ross Tierney and Dawson Devoy were also introduced, and it was nearly Tierney who snatched the equaliser being denied by an excellent point blank save from Marco Carnesecchi.
Tierney provided the spark that Jim Crawford’s side badly needed, the Dubliner was nearly through on goal once more only for a great block from the covering Caleb Okoli.
It wasn’t to be for Ireland as an excellent Lucca through ball found substitute Cancellieri on the counter who slotted beyond Maher putting the game beyond any doubt. 2-0 Italy.
Ireland face a must win game at home to Sweden next Tuesday. The Swedes are seven points ahead of Ireland after defeating Bosnia & Herzegovina 4-0 earlier in the day. Italy next play again at this level next March.
Republic of Ireland u21: Brian Maher (GK); Lee O’Connor, Jake O’Brien, Mark McGuinness, Joel Bagan; Gavin Kilkenny (Ross Tierney 76), Conor Coventry (C), Will Smallbone (Dawson Devoy 76); Conor Noss (Festy Ebosele 56) Tyreik Wright; Colm Whelan (Joshua Kayode 56)
Subs not used: David Odumosu (GK), Oisin McEntee, Will Ferry, William Hondemarck, Evan Ferguson
Booked: None
Italy u21: Marco Carnesecchi; Raoul Bellanova, Matteo Lovato (Lorenzo Pirola 34), Caleb Okoli, Andrea Cambiaso; Nicolo Rovella, Salvatore Esposito, Samuele Ricci; Lorenzo Colombo (Matteo Cancellieri 86), Lorenzo Lucca, Emanuele Vignato ((Samuele Mulattieri 90 +1)
Subs not used: Stefano Turati (GK), Giacomo Quagliata, Filippo Ranocchia, Roberto Piccoli, Gabriele Ferrarini, Nicolo Fagiolo
Booked: Salvatore Esposito (89)
Referee: Horatiu Mircea Fesnic (Romania)
Attendance: 2,161
Extratime.com man of the match: Nicolo Rovella (Italy)
