Portugal U21 VS Italy U21 – Match Report

8pm GMT Kick Off, Stadion Stozice, Slovenia, U21 Euro Quarter Final

A game which has saw a series of goals, sees Portugal advance to the U21 Euro Semi Final

Portugal beat Italy 5-3 as they advance to the Semi Final. Dany Mota gave Portugal a two goal advantage before Tommaso Pobega pulled one back just before the break. Goncalo Ramos grabbed Portugal’s third, just before Gianluca Scamacca pulled one back instantly. Italy pushed for an equaliser, and got it when substitute Patrick Cutrone turned it home, which took the game into extra time.

Matteo Lovato picked up a red card early in extra time and in the second half of extra time, Jota and Chico Conceicao added a fourth and fifth to send Portugal to the next round.

Italy started the game with a high press, and it forced Diogo Dalot into a mistake, which Gianluca Scamacca got onto. Luckily for Dalot, Diogo Queiros was able to stop the attack.

However, it was Portugal who opened the scoreline with a spectacular effort from Monza forward Dany Mota. From a corner the ball bounced off a defender and Mota attempted an overhead kick which beat Marco Carnesecchi to give Portugal the lead.

Italy tried to get a quick comeback. Raoul Bellanova darted towards the back stick as the ball came in his direction. He reached the ball, but couldn’t make contact to trouble Diogo Costa in goal.

Once again, Portugal had a great bit of passing which was played into Dalot. He looked to pick out Mota, however, his cross turned into a shot which Carnesecchi had to deal with.

Italy pushed for an equaliser as Tommaso Pobega created room for himself just outside the Portugal area, and he went for a shot which just went past Costa’s post.

On the half hour mark, Portugal doubled their lead, and Mota grabbed his second of the game. Daniel Braganca won a header from a corner, and headed it towards Mota, who turned his defender and smashed his shot high into the roof on the net.

Despite being two goals down, Italy came close on a few occasions to scoring. Pobega was the architect once again, as he played a delightful ball over the defense towards Davide Frattesi, but the ball just had too much on it for him to get on the end of. Then it was Frattesi who played it to Bellanova who skied his chance in a good area of the pitch.

Just before the half time, Italy pulled one back, and it came from a corner once again. Frattesi won a header at the front post, which was flicked towards the back post. Pobega was in the position to poke it past Costa, which was the first goal Portugal have conceded in this tournament.

Italy came close to drawing the game level. Marco Sala made a dangerous run down the line and fired it into the box towards Frattesi. The midfielder got his head to it, which forced a brilliant reaction save from Costa from close range.

However, Portugal doubled their lead once again, this time it was Mota’s strike partner, Goncalo Ramos. The ball dropped in the box, and the striker redirected the ball into the corner, to put Portugal into a commanding lead.

However, it was short lived. From kick off, Giacomo Raspadori drove forward with the ball and laid it off to Frattesi. He pulled the ball across the box to Scamacca who had an open goal, and instantly pulled Italy back into the match.

Fabio Vieria nearly added a fourth for Portugal. The ball bounced around the box after a corner, Vieria beat Carnesecchi to the ball. Fortunately for Italy, it was cleared off the line.

Italy pushed for an equaliser, and got it through Patrick Cutrone. Riccardo Sottil burst down the line and found Cutrone in the box who flicked it into the top corner of the net.

They came close to a later winner, as this time Raspadori made threatening run into the box and tried to pull it across the box, but it was blocked by a number of Portuguese defenders.

As extra time began, Italy received another red card in their Euro campaign. Matteo Lovato picked up a second yellow card after a late foul in the middle of the park.

Cutrone came close to putting the Italians ahead. Cutrone beat two defenders before getting his shot off. His strike nearly caught Costa out, but the Porto keeper got enough on it to see it go wide.

Then it was Portugal’s substitute who nearly got them the lead. Jota made a skillful run on the edge of the box, and he played a ball across the box to Rafael Leao. He reached the ball, but couldn’t get the connection to head it on target.

In the 108th minute, Portugal took the lead once again. The two substitutes combined, as Romario Baro played it into Jota, who curved it into the box corner.

Portugal guaranteed their place in the Semi Final, as Chico Conceicao. He made a dangerous run down the right, cut inside and squeezed it under the keeper.

Portugal progressed to the Semi Final were they will play Spain who beat Croatia 2-1 in their Quarter Final. They will play each other on Thursday 3rd June.

Man Of The Match – Dany Mota

The Monza striker had a terrific game, as he scored two well taken goals, which helped Portugal into the Semi Finals.

Both goals showed different qualities in front of goal, but he also showcased a great work rate through-out the match.

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