Federico Chiesa returns to Azzurro and puts on a show, North Macedonia beaten
Federico Chiesa dà show, North Macedonia beaten
At the Stadio Olimpico, Italy beat North Macedonia 5-2 with some thrills but an extraordinary Federico Chiesa, who scored a brace. Luciano Spalletti’s national team will now play for direct qualification to the 2024 European Championships on Monday in Leverkusen against Ukraine.
Two key pawns of the European Championship victory two years ago, Jorginho and Chiesa, return to our national team after a very long period, but the Juventus striker is hit hard by an opponent almost immediately by Dimoski, luckily he recovers and he è he on 7’ to try first with his right, parried without difficulty by Dimitrievski.
On 13’ Raspadori scores by piercing the goalkeeper on an assist from Berardi but the Napoli striker è in millimeter offside and the goal is disallowed. On 16’ Chiesa chested to Bonaventura who gave him back the ball, close-range shot at the first post, Dimitrievski deflects for a corner, on the development of which Raspadori crosses into the area finding Darmian alone who header supports in the net and puts the Azzurri ahead.
On 22’ Chiesa for Raspadori who falls down and kicks his left foot wrongly but was probably still offside. At 24’ Chiesa tries the left from outside, wide. At 29’ prolonged action of the Azzurri, vitiated by an initial offside, anyway Bonaventura in the middle of the area touches for Chiesa whose shot is deflected into the corner.
At 35’ Dimarco scuffs a left-footed volley from a good position. At 38’ on a header by Gatti there’s a hand touch by Serafimov and the referee awards the penalty to Italy that Jorginho once again, for the third consecutive time in the Azzurri after the two with Switzerland, misses having it parried by Dimitrievski.
But in 41’ after a very long action Barella puts a backheel outside the box for Chiesa who with his right hand strikes Dimitrievski: 2-0. On the stroke of the second minute of added time Chiesa, served by Berardi, tries a right-footed shot that, deflected by Manev, slips into the cross of the posts. It ends 3-0 a first half literally dominated by Italy and with North Macedonia that did not è exist.
Immediately in the second minute of the second half, which è began with three changes among our opponents, Chiesa serves Raspadori who controls and crosses his left, Dimitrievski parries in the dive. At 52’ North Macedonia shortened the gap with Atanasov, one of the newcomers, who bagged a header from an Alioski cross. Immediately afterwards Barela and Bonaventura alone in front of Dimitrievski pull together on him and the ball goes in for a corner.
On 57’ Dimarco tries a left-footed shot, Dimitrievski tells him no. Shortly after the quarter d’Chiesa comes out to applause for Zaniolo who enters amid booing, Cristante and Frattesi are also in for Jorginho and Bonaventura. On 74’ Atanasov tries a right-footed shot from outside, deflected by Acerbi, the ball ends up in the net mocking Donnarumma: 3-2.
There’è a few moments of terror in the ranks of the Azzurri but at’81’ Barella serves Raspadori who controls and beats Dimitrievski with his left. Scamacca, who just entered in place of Raspadori in the recovery, also tried but his lob ended up wide. On 93’ El Shaarawy, who took Berardi’s place, also scores, and is caught by Dimarco all alone in the box, sealing the final 5-2.
