Italy U21 3-2 Serbia U21: Belotti brace leads Azzurrini to come from behind victory

Date: 6th September 2014 at 9:00am
Written by:

Andrea Belotti ItalyItaly’s U21 squad downed Serbia 3-2 in a Euro 2015 qualifier at the Stadio Adriatica in Pescara on Friday night.

The Azzurrini fell behind by two goals thanks to a brace from Aleksandar Pesic before Andrea Belotti netted his own brace in an eventful first half, before Domenico Berardi sealed the win with a long-range strike in the second frame.

Serbia began the day tied atop Group 9 with Belgium and the visitors started brilliantly when Italy failed to defend a throw-in and Matteo Bianchetti scuffed his clearance right into Pesic’s path, who had an easy finish from the six-yard box.

Near the quarter hour mark, disaster struck again from a Serbian corner when Pesic made a run which was unmarked and the Toulouse striker bulleted a header past Chievo goalkeeper Francesco Bardi to give the away side the 2-0 lead.

The sides traded excellent scoring chances after that including a diving save off a punishing free kick by Bardi to keep the Azzurrini in the match.

The save would prove meaningful almost immediately when Cristiano Biraghi’s free kick from just outside the area hit the wall and fell kindly to Belotti, and the Palermo striker capitalized on his good fortune to cut the lead to 2-1.

Just before the stroke of half-time the Rosanero man was pulled down in the box by Serbian captain Uros Cosic, allowing Belotti to score his fifth goal for Italy with a perfectly placed spot kick to level the score at 2-2.

Buoyed by their comeback, the young Italians started the second half on the front foot with a pair of gilt-edged chances including a shot off the post by Berardi.

With just over 15 minutes remaining, Berardi created a yard of space from 20 yards out and blistered a left footed strike into the corner to complete the 3-2 comeback for the home side.

Italy currently sit in second place with 13 points and will face Cyprus in the last qualifying match on Wednesday evening knowing a win will put them atop Group 9.

Group winners and the four best placed group runners-up enter into play-offs to determine qualification to the finals that will take place in Czech Republic.

 

Comments are closed.