Last Thursday, Portugal beat Italy 5-1 in the second round of Group A of the European Under-19 Football Championship in a game where they lost, but turned the result around and almost guaranteed to reach the semi-finals.
In Malta, Portugal conceded a goal through Luca Lipani in the sixth minute, achieved a draw by Rodrigo Ribeiro in the 35th minute, and turned the score to defeat in the second half, with goals from Gustavo Sá (57) , Gabriel Brás (68), Hugo Félix (88) and João Vasconcelos (90+1), at a time when he played with one more player at the age of 44 due to Lipani’s exclusion.
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With the 2nd victory, Portugal is only one step away from qualifying
⚽ Italy scores early but Portugal comes back (5-1)
Gabriel Brás and Hugo Félix score the 2nd goal of the tournament@selectaoportugal i #U19EURO pic.twitter.com/zSHUPftcNf– UEFA.com in Portuguese (@UEFAcom_pt) July 6, 2023
In the second round of Group A, the Italian team, who defeated Malta (4-0) in the first game, entered the game almost winning and gained the advantage after the sixth minute. Short corner kick, with a cross to the far post where midfielder Luca Lipani appeared, clear of the marker, heading towards goal.
Portugal, who beat Poland (2-0) in the opening match, tried to respond to the transalpines’ advantage and came close to equalizing in the 23rd minute, with Gustavo Sá, after a good move on the right, loose on the edge of the area, but shoot to save Davide Mastrantonio.
After the threat, the Portuguese team managed to equalize in the 35th minute. In a push, Carlos Borges tried the shot, the ball coming out weak, but leaving for Rodrigo Ribeiro, who changed direction for the tie.
Near half time, Italy were reduced to 10 men, with Lipani, scorer of the first goal and who already had a yellow card, seeing a straight red card, with the referee deeming the midfielder Gustavo Sá to be attacking.
In the second half, Portugal, with a numerical advantage, began to put pressure on the Italians and dangerous shots followed each other close to the Italian goal, emphasizing the shots from Samuel Justo and Hugo Félix. After the threats, the Portuguese team took the lead after 57 minutes, with Gustavo Sá receiving a pass from the right and taking the first shot to turn the score around.
In the 68th minute, Portugal extended their lead, with Hugo Félix taking a corner kick and defender Gabriel Brás leaping higher to progress to third.
Portugal dominated the game at will, with Italy unable to make any dangerous moves, while Hugo Félix, aged 88, fired from the edge of the area for the fourth goal. Already in stoppage time, João Vasconcelos reinforced the defeat and scored the fifth, in another shot with wonderful effect.
With this win, Portugal leads the group with six points, while Italy has three and Poland and Malta, who face each other on Thursday, have still not scored.
Should the Maltese team fail to win next Thursday’s game, Portugal is already assured of qualification for the semi-finals and first place in the group.
In the last game of the ‘group’, Portugal will meet Malta, while Italy will meet Poland in matches scheduled for Sunday.
game sheet
Match at Centenary Stadium – Ta’Qali, Malta
Referee: Sven Jablonski (Germany)
-Portugal: Gonçalo Ribeiro, Gonçalo Esteves (Martim Fernandes, 63), Gabriel Brás, António Ribeiro (Luís Gomes, 85), Martim Marques, Nuno Félix, Gustavo Sá (João Vasconcelos, 63), Samuel Justo (Diogo Prioste, 63), Hugo Félix, Carlos Borges and Rodrigo Ribeiro (Miguel Falé, 78).
(Alternates: Diogo Pinto, Martim Fernandes, Luís Gomes, Yanis da Rocha, Diogo Prioste, João Vasconcelos, Jorge Meireles, Miguel Falé and Herculano Nabian)
Trainer: Joaquim Milheiro
– Italy: Davide Mastrantonio, Filippo Misori, Lorenzo Dellavale, Iacopo Regonesi, Michael Kayode, Luca Lipani, Cher Ndour (Samuele Vignato, 90), Niccoló Pisill, Luca Koleosho (Luca D`Andrea, 75), Luis Hasa and Nicoló Tuco (Pio Esposito ) , 60)
(Alternates: Lorenzo Palmisani, Andrea Bozzolan, Fabio Christan Chiarodia, Alessandro Dellavale, Giacomo Faticanti, Lorenzo Amatucci, Luca D’Andrea, Francesco Pio Esposito and Samuele Vignato.)
Trainer: Alberto Bollini.
Goals: 0-1, Luca Lipani, 6 minutes; 1-1, Rodrigo Ribeiro, 35; 2-1, Gustavo Sa, 57; 3-1, Gabriel Bras, 68; 4-1, Hugo Felix, 88; 5-1, Joao Vasconcelos, 90+1.
Discipline: Yellow card for Luca Lipani (08 minutes), António Ribeiro (41), Samuel Justo (45+4), Luca Kaleosho (71), Cher Ndour (76) and Luca D`Andrea (90+4). Straight red card for Luca Lipani (44).
Source: DN
