Germany U21 2-2 Italy U21: Late Leitner effort ensures draw

Date: 27th March 2015 at 10:28pm
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Simone Verdi - Germany U21 - Italy U21Italy Under-21 drew 2-2 away in Paderborn against Germany Under-21 in a friendly youth international.

Marcello Trotta gave Italy the lead in the first half before an exciting second half in which Leonardo Bittencourt equalised, Simone Verdi then restored the Azzurrini’s lead only for Moritz Leitner to level the scores five minutes from time with a penalty.

The Germans got off to the better start but were unable to create clear chances while Trotta forced a good save from Bernd Leno against the run of play.

Trotta opened the scoring for Italy in the 38th minute after heading in from a Domenico Berardi free-kick.

The Azzurrini pressed forwards looking for another but the half-time whistle went with the score at 1-0 for the Italians.

Bittencourt levelled the scores in the 56th minute after the Hannover 96 man pounced on a rebound following a good save from Francesco Bardi.

Bernd Leno made a good save from Battochio in the 64th minute after Verdi set up

Verdi restored Italy’s lead in the 78th minute with a great goal with the attacking midfielder beating his marker to put the ball onto his right foot and slot past a stationary Leno.

Samuelo Longo had a chance to get the third goal in 82nd minute after some great work from Berardi but Leno denied the Cagliari forward.

Germany were awarded with a penalty in the 84th minute for a foul on Philipp Hofmann by Alessio Romagnoli with the Italian players protesting that their opponent went down too easily.

Leitner stepped up to level the scores with a perfectly composed penalty that sent Bardi the wrong way.

Italy had two more half-chances to win the game via Longo and Verdi late on but ultimately they couldn’t find a way through the German defence and the game finished 2-2.

 

One response to “Germany U21 2-2 Italy U21: Late Leitner effort ensures draw”

  1. Alex says:

    He did go down easy in the box.

    So much for Germans ‘don’t dive’.

    Seriously. He did what he had to do and got the call.