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Brave Ireland exit U21 European Championship qualifying race after draw with Italy

Updated / Wednesday, 16 Oct 2024 07:44
A dejected Sinclair Armstrong is consoled by Italy's Luca Koleosho
A dejected Sinclair Armstrong is consoled by Italy's Luca Koleosho

Italy U21 1-1 Republic of Ireland U21

The Republic of Ireland's wait to qualify for a European Under-21 Championships is set to continue despite a brave 1-1 draw against Italy in Trieste.

The Boys in Green went into the game knowing a win would have seen them top the group, but they might have still nicked a play-off place had Norway failed to beat Turkey at home.

That game was a foregone conclusion from an early stage, finishing 5-1 for the Norwegians, meaning only three points away to the group favourites would be enough for Jim Crawford's side. And, despite coming from behind at half-time, they couldn't find the winner at the Stadio Nereo Rocco.

The damage wasn't done tonight, but in conceding stoppage-time equalisers to both the Italians and the Norwegians in Cork earlier in the campaign, as well as a failure to beat Latvia last month at Tallaght Stadium.

Ireland came into the game against a side who were looking to finish off their group campaign with an unbeaten record, and they looked relatively happy to absorb early pressure from the visitors.

Crawford's side were working the channels, raining crosses down on the Italian box throughout the night. James Abankwah went close on the quarter-hour mark, but he just couldn't get enough on the ball to direct his header on goal.

Shortly afterwards, Shamrock Rovers forward Johnny Kenny had a massive chance to give his side the lead. His initial header was saved, but Italian keeper Sebastiano Desplanches spilled the ball.

Kenny adjusted to poke the ball towards goal, but Nicolo Bertola was in the right place at the right time to clear the ball off the line.

Baba Adeeko then smashed a shot towards goal from just inside the box, and it was Daniele Ghilardi who made the crucial contact to keep it out this time.

Italy broke forward and were ahead inside 60 seconds as Cesare Casadei finished well from Wilfried Gnonto's cross from the right; it was a goal that had come against the run of play.

Taking the lead gave the Italians confidence and Gnonto - scorer of a brace in the draw at Turners Cross last year - smashed the crossbar with an effort from 25 yards.

Tommaso Baldanzi then flashed an effort wide of the left post and he was involved again in the 36th minute as Italy were awarded a penalty.

Anselmo Garcia McNulty wrapped his arms around the Roma man and gave referee Adam Ladeback a decision to make but Ireland finally got a rub of the green as Gnonto blasted his penalty over the crossbar.

With Norway running away with it against Turkey, Crawford knew he needed to throw caution to the wind.

Tayo Adaramola and Connor O'Brien came on at the start of the second half, with Aidomo Emakhu entering the fray before the hour mark.

And it was Emakhu who would have the biggest impact, setting up Ireland's equaliser on 66 minutes.

The Millwall winger never gave up out right, before finally playing a low ball towards the penalty spot, where the arriving Andy Moran finished low and right, similar to Casadei's opener in the first half.

With 25 minutes to play, the Boys in Green were back in the qualification conversation.

The visitors were pushing hard but they were struggling to break down the Italian defensive structure, with cross after cross presenting little threat to Desplanches.

With five minutes to go, it was his opposite number Tiernan Brooks who kept Ireland in the game, getting down low to push away Ghilardi's superb strike from 30 yards.

As Ireland grew increasingly tired, there was one last chance after great work from the ever-lively Emakhu to cut in from the right, before driving the ball in low.

Whether he was going for goal, or a cross, the effort needed a touch from Desplanches to push it around the left post.

But there was to be no winner, as history slipped away for this talented group of Ireland U21s.

Republic of Ireland: Tiernan Brooks; Sam Curtis (Connor O'Brien 46), James Abankwah, Emmanuel Adegboyega, Sean Roughan (Tayo Adaramola 46), Anselmo Garcia-MacNulty, Baba Adeeko (Mark O'Mahony 81), Matt Healy, Andrew Moran (c), Sinclair Armstrong (Bristol City), Johnny Kenny (Aidomo Emakhu 59).

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