Niccolò Pisilli scored an incredible goal for Italy against Poland in the U-21 European Championship qualifier (@azzurri)
Italy took a well-deserved lead thanks to Niccolo Pisilli’s sensational scissor kick volley, but unfortunately they conceded two counter-attacks in four minutes to Poland and suffered a disappointing defeat in this U-21 European Championship qualifying match.
This was a pure head-to-head battle for the top spot in Group E, as both teams had 12 points after four matches, with Poland leading the way with a +15 goal difference and Azzurrini’s +10.
Francesco Camarda and Oscar Pietuszewski were on target from the start, but Luigi Cherubini created two big scoring chances in the opening 17 minutes.
His first shot was a header from a cross from the left by Luca Coleosho that hit the outside of the uprights, and moments later he volleyed a relatively undisturbed shot wide of the target from a similar position.
Poland also threatened to counter-attack, with Lorenzo Palmisani dropping to parry Tomasz Pienko’s angled drive at the base of the near post.
Davide Bartesaghi took a big risk when he brought down Marcel Regula just outside the area, and minutes later Filippo Mane made a decisive clearance on the goal line for Pienko.
After the restart, Cherubini’s roll from the right was met by Picilli, who forced a desperate save from close range with the goalkeeper’s legs.
Picilli then broke the deadlock with a truly incredible individual goal. He controlled Koreosho’s cross from the left at the back post with his right boot, flicked it over the defender and from an impossible angle fired a scissor-kick volley into the top corner with his right boot.
Marcel Rubic once again used his legs to thwart Koreosho’s diagonal drive after his defender was left behind, and Alfajo Cisse drew the goalkeeper from his line, but the angle was too narrow and it rolled into the empty net.
However, Poland managed to equalize on the counter with a cheeky turn from Jan Faberski, who swung past Pietro Comuzzo and rolled wide before Wiktor Bogač controlled and swept in from 12 yards.
Italy, who had been in control for most of the match, suddenly collapsed and conceded again moments later when Palmisani diverted Faberski’s shot into the path of Maciej Krzyemka, leaving room for a powerful volley.
The Azzurrini had two chances in stoppage time when Luca Lipani’s shot was charged and Cisse smashed the rebound into the goalkeeper’s arms, but it was their first defeat under new manager Silvio Baldini.
Italy’s mood worsened and things got worse, with Coleoscio receiving a second yellow card which could have been completely avoided by a suspension for a reaction foul.
Poland 2-1 Italy
Pisilli 61 (I), Bogač 84 (P), Kuziemka 87 (P)
Poland U21: Lubic. Nowak, Kutuwa, Drapinski, Guruguru. Kokaba (Drahar 66), Kozbal. Pietuszewski (Krzyemka 74), Duda (Fabelski 74), Pienko (Jakubczyk 90). Regular (Bogatch 66)
Italy U21: Palmisani. Palestra, Comuzzo, Manet, Baltesaghi. Pisilli (Berti 82), Lipani, D’Agasso. Cherubini, Camarda (Cissé 75), Coleosho
Reference: Bandic (BIH)
Person sent off: Koreosho 96 (I)
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