Ireland U21s impress but Italy level late on at Turner's Cross

Republic of Ireland 2-2 Italy 

A last-second Wilfred Gnoto goal denied the Republic of Ireland U21 a famous win over Italy in European Championship qualifying at Turner’s Cross.

At 2-1, it seemed like Sinclair Armstrong was going to steal the headlines, but the Leeds United winger had the final say. Ireland led twice on the night, with Killian Philips opening the scoring midway through the first half.

Sinclair Armstrong of Republic of Ireland in action against Diego Coppola of Italy at Turner's Cross. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

The Italy team boasted players like Gnoto, the country’s youngest goal scorer at senior level with 13 caps under Luciano Spalletti. Cher N’Dour was stationed in midfield, and he went into the qualifier after moving to French giants PSG from Benfica over the summer. Edoardo Bove was his partner, and he is a regular for Roma under José Mourinho.

Ireland set out to neutralise their collective ability by lining out in a 3-5-2 formation that had Matt Healy playing in front of a back three marshalled by Anselmo García MacNulty.

The players only got forward when an opportunity presented itself to catch Italy in transition, and their first venture won a corner inside two minutes. Healy targeted the near post and a free-out was given over an infringement on goalkeeper Sebastiano Desplanches.

The next moment of its kind was a chipped pass from Sean Roughan to Aidomo Emakhu, and the striker hit the ball just over the intended target.

Italy came through this period and set up N’Dour on the edge of the area and Bosun Lawal blocked the shot. Matteo Prati then picked out Gnoto and his right-footed attempt rolled inches wide at the Shed End.

When Italy tried to go long, García MacNulty was in the right place to head the ball back to Joshua Keeley before someone in a blue jersey could get to it.

How Ireland got forward was simple. The height of Emakhu was used to break balls down to Armstrong and his pace carried the team up the pitch. 

It may seem like a basic way to set up, but it worked when the striker ran free down the left and put a low cross into the area. After Sam Curtis failed to pull off a shot, Philips kept his cool and hit the back of the net in the 31st minute.

Killian Phillips after hitting the net at the Cross. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Instead of an instant response by Italy, Crawford’s players continued to get up the pitch. García MacNulty even had a chance to make it 2-0 when he connected with a Healy free-kick, and he headed wide.

It was all going according to plan until the referee ruled a Gnoto shot hit Lawal’s hand inside the area in the final seconds of the first half. A penalty was given and the midfielder equalised by sending Keeley the wrong way.

Italy's Wilfried Gnonto celebrates scoring a penalty against Ireland at Turner's Cross. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Instead of a hangover, Ireland came out and created space for Sean Grehan to put in a cross. He hit the inside of the post and the loose ball was tapped in by Armstrong.

There were no instructions to sit back and defend the lead from the bench, instead, it was more of the same as Ireland used the pace of Armstrong to pull Italy apart and create chances.

A chance to equalise during this spell fell to an unmarked Giovanni Fabbian and Keeley reacted to make a reactionary save to deny the midfielder.

It seemed like the inevitable had arrived when a Gnoto shot hit the inside of the post and went to Mattia Zanotti. With an open goal facing him, he went for power and Keeley dived to stop the ball on the goal line.

In the final second, a Gnoto shot was helped in by a Healy deflection, and the points were shared.

IRELAND: Joshua Keeley; Sean Grehan, Bosun Lawal, Anselmo García MacNulty, Sam Curtis, Matt Healy, Baba Adeeko, Sean Roughan, Killian Philips, Sinclair Armstrong, Aidomo Emakhu.

Subs: Johnny Kenny for Armstrong (82), Omotayo Adaramola for Roghan (90), Adam Murphy for Emakhu (90).

ITALY: Sebastiano Desplanches; Riccardo Calafiori, Lorenzo Pirola, Diego Coppola, Mattia Zanotti, Cher N’Dour, Matteo Prati, Edoardo Bove, Giovanni Fabbian, Wilfred Gnonto, Pio Esposito.

Subs: Cesare Casadei for Esposito (45); Luka Koleosho for N’Dour (56), Giuseppe Ambrosino for Fabbian (75), Riccardo Turricchia for Calafiori (82),

Referee: Lionel Tschudi (Sui)