CREMONA, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Italy’s Francesco Camarda celebrates after scoring a 3-0 goal in the UEFA EURO U21 qualifier match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Gini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Italy continued their good form in the U-21 qualifiers, defeating Armenia 5-1 with Francesco Camarda scoring twice but Cher N’Dour missing a penalty.
The Azurini have won all three games under coach Silvio Baldini, including a 4-0 win over Sweden last week, and are tied for the top of their group with Poland.
Luka Marianucci almost paid for a momentary distraction when Araiku Eloyan popped out in the final third, but the Armenian striker brutally scuffed his finish as he cleared onto goal.
Italy were unable to take the lead in the 22nd minute when Fiorentina midfielder Cher N’Dour’s header cleverly beat the goalkeeper and sent the ball into the right field.
Moments later, N’Dour was given a penalty after being brought down by Artem Bandikian, but the same player deflected the spot-kick past Goal Matignan.
N’Dour had another header, but Luca Lipani’s shot went into the net and Italy finally broke through.
Substitute Matteo D’Agasso set off the offside trap with a truly inspired through ball from Niccolò Pisilli and kept his cool to beat the goalkeeper one-on-one.
The second goal came a few minutes later when Coleosho won the ball back in midfield and played a through ball to Davide Baltessaghi on the left, who generously rolled the ball wide for fellow Milan academy product Camarda to tap in from six yards.
However, Armenia also had great chances to score. The ball rolled in from the left and Arthur Galibian tipped his toe with all his might, eliciting a tricky save from Lorenzo Palmisani.
Italy’s 17-year-old Camarda scored his third goal in two games, hooking in D’Agasso’s cross from the left byline.
Picilli slalomed past defenders and his diagonal drive found its fingertip into the path of Seydou Fini from five yards to go to make it 4-0.
However, Azurini still managed to gift Armenia with a goal. Baltessaghi’s weak backpass surprised Palmisani and allowed Edik Vardanyan to dive.
There was more bad news. Niccolo Fortini received two yellow cards in three minutes, reducing Italy to 10 men. That was especially noteworthy considering he appeared just eight minutes earlier.
In the 88th minute, Coleosho fired his first shot from the edge of the area, followed by Picilli, whose follow-up shots both bounced off the uprights, creating a threat for a fifth goal.
Jeff Ecator rounded out the scoreline in stoppage time with an angled drive, also inspired by Koreosho.
Italy 5-1 Armenia
D’Agasso 59 (I), Camarda 62, 72 (I), Fini 75 (I), Vardanian 78 (A), Ecatre 91 (I)
Penalty saved: N’Dour 26 (I)
Sent off: Fortini 85 (I)
Italy U21: Palmisani. Palestra (Fortini 77), Marianucci (Guarino 46), Manet, Baltessaghi. Pisilli, Lipani, N’Dour (D’Agasso 46); Cherubini (Fini 73), Camarda (Ecator 73), Coleosho
Armenia U21: Matignan. Tarloyan, Manukyan, Hakobian (Vardanian 68), Bandikian. K Hovhannisyan (Askarian 68), N Hovhannisyan (Afyan 68), H Sargsyan (Aivazyan 76), D Hakobian. M Hakobian, Eroyan (Gharibian 57)
Reference: Levi (ISR)
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