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07.09.2015 at 15:00 Cava de'Tirreni
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Attendance: |
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Italy |
2 - 1
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Rep of Ireland Under 19 |
Luca Vido 68 mins,
Ivan de Santis 75 mins, |
Tom Holland (33)
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Zaccagno,
Vitturini,
Pezzella,
Barella,
De Santis,
Coppolaro,
D'Urso,
Locatelli,
Bonazzoli,
Vido,
Bifulco. |
James Talbot
Dan Casey
Tom Cadman
Danny Kane
Adam Mc Donnell
Tom Holland
Daire O Connor
Shane Elworthy
Khius Metz
Graham Kelly
George Poynton
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THE Republic of Ireland U19 side went down to an unfortunate 2-1 loss to Italy at Cava de'Tirreni this evening.
Paul Doolin's side produced an excellent first half display in the testing heat and led at the break through a Tom Holland goal after 33 minutes.
The Italians started brightly with Luca Vido firing over in the fourth minute but in the tenth minute Adam McDonnell had a shot from distance comfortably held by the home keeper.
Khius Metz was almost sent through on goal four minutes later but he just failed to connect with a penetrating pass from Shane Elworthy.
Alfredo Bifulco shot narrowly wide in the 17th minute then the same player turned provider two minutes later but Federico Bonazzoli could not turn the dangerous cross home.
Irish keeper James Talbot produced a brilliant save to deny Vido in the 31st minute but just two minutes later the Irish took the lead through Holland. The Swansea City midfielder pounced on hesitancy in the Italian defence to flick the ball past the advancing keeper Andrea Zaccagno.
An Irish free-kick caused chaos in the home defence in the 56th minute but Ireland could not turn it home.
Italy drew level in the 68th minute when the impressive Bifulco dribbled in from the left, his initial shot was partially saved by sub keeper Colin McCabe but it was bundled into the net by Luca Vido.
The home side went ahead in the 75th minute when Ivan De Santis headed home from a corner.
Vido had another effort off target five minutes later then Bifulco had two later efforts - one just wide and another comfortably held by Irish keeper McCabe.
"We led 1-0 at half-time and to be fair Italy had better possession without much penetration. We were decently set-up as usual and snatched a goal," said Doolin.
"We changed the team at the break and they were more fluid than us in the second half. To be honest Italy probably deserved it.
"We've a bit of work to do. The players know what level to reach straight away now. We don't have the players together for a long time. Some of our play was good and maybe our final ball wasn't good enough. You can see they've been together a lot and another team may have lost heavily so I'm pleased with how we defended.
"Our goal came after a bit of good pressure. In the first half our keeper James Talbot really only had one decent save to make. It was a good experience for the players and we will have learned a lot from it."
ITALY: Zaccagno, Vitturini, Pezzella, Barella, De Santis, Coppolaro, D'Urso, Locatelli, Bonazzoli, Vido, Bifulco. Subs: Panico for Bonazzoli 46, Ghiglione for D'Urso 46, De Micheli for Locatelli 74, Dal Monte for Vido 83.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: James Talbot, Danny Kane, Tom Cadman, George Poynton, Shane Elworthy, Adam McDonnell, Tom Holland, Dan Casey, Khius Metz, Daire O Conchubhair, Graham Kelly. Subs: Colin McCabe, Jack Tuite, Anto Breslin, Connor Ellis, Nathan Corkery, Dylan Watts, Kyron Farrell, Robbie McCourt and Anto Dolan for Talbot, Cadman, Poynton, McDonnell, Holland, Casey, Metz, O Conchubhair, Kelly all 46 mins. |
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