Pio Esposito launches Young Italy: Luxembourg knocked out

It starts with a 1-0 victory in Luxembourg for the experimental Italy of the transitional coach Silvio Baldini. The Under-21 coach made several youngsters debut in the friendly at the Stade De Luxembourg and found success thanks to Pio Esposito’s goal early in the second half. The young national team, born from the ashes of the Zenica disaster, will be back on the field next June 7 in Crete against Greece for the second international test match.

Italy dominated the game in the first half but was not very concrete under goal. Baldini’s young lineup maintains possession but in attack always lacks the last pass or accuracy in the shot: Pio Esposito tries with a heel, Pisilli who hits the outside of the net, Koleosho who wastes in front of the goalkeeper. On the other hand, Donnarumma practically never risks.

At the start of the second half comes the well-deserved Azzurri advantage: on the development of a Pisilli corner, Pio Esposito arrives before anyone else on the ball and signs Italy’s lead with a header at 49′. The national team insists and comes close to scoring at 60′ with Pisilli, who hits the post, and at 66′ with Bartesaghi.

During the second half, Baldini makes other youngsters make their debut, among them Fini, who at 72′ gobbles up a possible double. At 77′ Camarda, who recently entered for Pio Esposito, also seeks glory, but the Milan-owned striker narrowly misses Bartesaghi’s cross. It ends without further excitement: the new Blue course starts on a positive note.