Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 November 2021 | 5:30 pm | U21 International | 2021/22 |
Match Report
21’s lose to Italy in Tallaght
The Republic of Ireland U21’s suffered their second loss in Group F tonight, losing 2-0 to Italy in Tallaght.
Although Jim Crawford’s outfit had good passages in play, that little bit of difference in quality between the two sides was the difference, with Lorenzo Lucca grabbing a vital goal on the half hour mark.
Italy kept pressing, and found a second late on, with Matteo Cancellieri putting the issue beyond doubt.
Ireland started well and had a promising opening ten minutes. Tyreik Wright had a shot nearly go in, but Italian goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi was alert and tipped it over.
The visitors would soon settle. Emanuel Vignato and Samuele Ricci both had decent chances flash just wide.
The breakthrough came on the half hour mark. An Italian ball from the right was poorly dealt with by Jake O’Brien as he attempted to head clear a ball he should’ve used his feet to clear. He appeared to lose his footing and as the ball hit off him Lucca was on the spot to punish the error, finishing first time to give the Azzuri the lead.
Soon after, Vignato had another effort go just wide. Ricci continued to dominate the midfield and had another good chance to score. It remained one at the half however.
A minute into the second half, Italy nearly had a screamer. The ball sat up to Andrea Cambiaso outside the box who caught it on the volley first time. His effort just went off target, but if it had been on target there would’ve been nothing Brian Maher could’ve done.
Crawford would bring on JJ Kayode and Festy Ebosele to try bring some fresh legs to the side and a few minutes later also introduced Dawson Devoy and Ross Tierney. Late on in the game, it looked like two of the subs would combine to earn Ireland a point.
In the 88th minute, Tierney was played through by Ebosele, but Caleb Okoli intervened and nullified the chance. As good as a goal from the Atalanta man.
As the boys in green pushed for an equaliser, the Azzuri would finish it on the counter. A free from a Salvatore Esposito foul resulted in a brief spell Italy being camped deep, but the visitors eventually nicked the ball back.
One pass after regaining possession and all of a sudden late substitute Cancellieri was through on goal. He kept his head and made no mistake, eventually firing past Maher to seal it. The defeat leaves Ireland in a serious uphill battle for qualification.
Timeline
Past Meetings
 
(5-8th Play Off)
1 - 3European Amputee Football Championship
Garbarnia Stadium Ireland v Italy |
2 - 1Women's Senior
Italy v Republic of Ireland |
1 - 1Women's Senior
AEK Arena Italy v Republic of Ireland |
4 - 1UEFA Women's EURO Qualification
Italy v Republic of Ireland |
1 - 2UEFA Women's EURO Qualification
Tallaght Stadium Republic of Ireland v Italy |
|
(Algarve Cup)
4 - 1Women's Senior
Estadio Dr. Francisco Vieira, Silves Italy v Republic of Ireland |
0 - 1Women's Senior
Richmond Park Republic of Ireland v Italy |
|
(International Friendly)
2 - 0Women's Senior
Stadio Francesco Baracca, Mestre Italy v Republic of Ireland |
Ground
| Tallaght Stadium |
|---|
| Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W |
Full time. Ireland suffer their second loss in Group F.
Goal! It's all over as Cancellieri finishes a counter attack off. Italy will take the points.
Esposito fouls and receives a booking.
Tierney is played in by Ebosele but a brilliant intervention by Okoli keeps it level. As good as a goal from the Atalanta man.
Colombo has a great chance but Maher pulls off a great save to keep the deficit at one late.
Ross Tierney has a chance at point blank range but is denied by Carnesecchi.
Colombo curls one with his left and despite an initial spill, Maher collects.
Rovella gets a rebound from a Lucca shot and it's just wide.
They're replaced by Devoy and Tierney, respectively.
Another double sub for Ireland. Smallbone and Kilkenny are off.
Vignato cuts in and lets fly on his right and his effort is just off target.
Rovella hits a decent strike, but Maher is well behind it.
Ebosele attempts a rebound from a cross but just can't keep it down.
Kayode goes down in the box, but it looks more like he slipped.
Kayode wins a corner.
At the hour mark. Been a much tamer second half.
Kayode and Ebosele are on.
Crawford makes a double switch. Whelan and Noss are off.
Smallbone whips in a cross, but puts too much on it and Carnesecchi catches it routinely.
Cambiasso catches it on the volley outside the box and his effort is not far off. Would've been a sensational debut goal.
Second half is underway.
Half time. Ireland had a chance at the end but couldn't make anything of it.
Ricci has another effort but just hits wide. He's bossing the midfield so far.
Wright gets the ball but Bellanova blocks his cross.
Vignato has an effort just scrape wide. Looks like he knows he should've scored.
Kilkenny tries one from range but it's well wide.
Goal! Lucca pounces on an O'Brien slip and puts it in to give Italy the lead.
Vignato delivers in a short cross but Ireland win a free out due to a handball.
Esposito smacks the wall.
O'Brien fouls Lucca in a dangerous position.
Smallbone has an effort outside the box but can't get it on target and hits well wide.
Wright whips a dangerous ball into Whelan, but Lovato intervenes and heads behind for a corner.
Ricci gets some room but fires over. Italians are starting to find their feet.
Vignato attempts the spectacular but shoots wide. Good work from Bellanova down the right to get the cross in. Ireland can't afford to leave players unmarked in positions like that though.
Fairly even contest so far. The home side don't seem to fear their visitors at all.
Jake O'Brien plays through Wright down the left and his cross nearly catches out Carnesecchi, who tips it over.
We're underway.
Ten minutes until kickoff. There appears to be wind and rain, much like the senior's game last night. Conditions may play a factor in this one.
The Italian lineup is also in. Paolo Nicolato seems to be playing a 4-3-3.
The Republic of Ireland squad is in. Appears to be a 3-4-3.
Hello and welcome to finalwhistle.ie for live updates of today's 2023 U21 European Championship qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and Italy, I'm Sean Comber and I'll be updating you on today's proceedings.