Italy conceded a stoppage-time equaliser with Turkey, after Sebastiano Desplanches had saved an early penalty, but remain top of their U21 European Championship qualifying group.
Senior Italy coach Luciano Spalletti was in the stands at the Stadio Paolo Mazza to watch the young talents.
There was an early chance when Cher Ndour’s cross into the box found Riccardo Calafiori’s header down towards Lorenzo Pirola, the goalkeeper throwing himself in the way of the tap-in.
Another Calafiori header was parried moments later, while Giovanni Fabbian fired off target on his Bologna teammate’s assist.
Pirola went off after a knock to the head and his replacement Daniele Ghilardi gave away a penalty when bundling into Ugur Yildiz, who seemed to already be going down. Bertug Yildirim stepped up and saw his weak and central spot-kick saved by Desplanches.
Turkey went incredibly close straight after the restart, Ahmectan Kaplan’s looping header from a free kick bouncing off the top of the crossbar.
Ghilardi made up for the penalty error by giving Italy the lead, as a free kick was pumped into the box, Willie Gnonto’s diving header knocked it across for the tap-in from six yards.
Mattia Zanotti’s angled drive was beaten away by the goalkeeper, but just as it seemed comfortable, Italy conceded in stoppages.
Erencan Yardimci turned Diego Coppola at the by-line and some of the Italy defenders waved to the referee and assistant claiming it had gone over the line. They should’ve played to the whistle, as he pulled it back for Semih Kilicsoy to tap in.
The Azzurrini remain top of their group on 17 points from seven games, but the Republic of Ireland can close up as they are on 13 points from six matches and Norway on 12.
Italy 1-1 Turkey
Ghilardi 50 (I), Semih Kilicsoy 91 (T)
Saved penalty: Yildim 36 (T)
Italy U21: Desplanches; Coppola, Pirola (Ghilardi 28), Calafiori; Zanotti (Kayode 88), Ndour, Prati, Ruggeri; Fabbian, Casadei; Gnonto (Oristanio 77)
Turkey U21: Dogan Alemdar; Emin Bayram (Altikardes 39), Kaplan, Ravil Tagir (Erencan Yardimci 77), Yasin Ozcan; Ugur Yildiz, Bartug Elmaz, Omer Beyaz (Cihan Canak 60), Semih Kilicsoy; Enis Destan, Bertug Yildirim (Emircan Gurluk 77)
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