Italy U21's Young Guns Fire Four Past North Macedonia in Empoli Massacre
Italy's U21 team demolished North Macedonia 4-0 in their UEFA Under-21 EURO qualifier at Empoli, with goals from Cher Ndour, Luca Lipani, Jeff Ekhator, and Seydou Fini. Despite two woodwork hits, they dominated after a blistering second-half start. As reported by Susy Campanale at Football Italia, the Azzurrini sit pretty in their group.
Italy U21's Young Guns Fire Four Past North Macedonia in Empoli Massacre
Picture this: a crisp evening in Empoli, the Stadio Carlo Castellani buzzing, and Italy's U21s treating North Macedonia like a training cone. The Azzurrini romped to a 4-0 victory in their UEFA Under-21 EURO qualifier, making it look easier than nicking a bag of crisps from the pub fridge. With five wins from six in the group – only a slip against Poland blemishing the record – these lads are primed for the finals.
Despite losing Marco Palestra and Niccolò Pisilli to the senior squad and Francesco Camarda nursing an injury, boss Carmine Nunziata blooded some fresh talent. Enter Honest Ahanor, who got his debut call-up right after turning 18. No messing about from kick-off; it was all one-way traffic.
Blistering Start and Woodwork Antics
Barely three minutes in, Davide Bartesaghi whipped in a peach of a cross from the left, and Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour rose like a salmon to head home the opener. One-nil, and the home crowd were already dreaming of clean sheets.
Luca Lipani nearly made it two on 13 minutes, his angled rocket from a Luigi Cherubini pass kissing the inside of the post before agonisingly rolling wide. Blimey, the woodwork must've been greased up. Jeff Ekhator then tried a cheeky back-heel flick that got a vital deflection, but Lipani wasn't done – he nodded another against the bar soon after.
Half-time blues? Nah. Straight after the restart, Lipani redeemed himself with a screamer from distance that wriggled into the far corner off his boot. Third time lucky, and 2-0 it was. Play hadn't even settled when Ekhator pounced at the near post from Dagasso's cut-back down the right. Offside? Maybe, but no VAR here, so chalk it up – 3-0 inside 50 minutes. North Macedonia were shell-shocked, chasing shadows.
Late Drama and Penalty Ice-Cool
The second half kept the entertainment high. Luca Koleosho jinked through defenders like they were statues before his shot was blocked, while Ndour forced a fingertip save on the line. Seydou Fini had a stonewall pen shout waved away – typical no-VAR chaos – but justice came late when Hamza felled him in the box. Fini dusted himself off and slotted home the fourth with 86 minutes gone. Ice in the veins, that lad.
Italy bossed possession, created chances galore, and kept a clean sheet. North Macedonia huffed and puffed but couldn't breach Palmisani in goal.
Line-Ups and Road to Euros
Italy U21: Palmisani; Favasuli (Kayode 46), Comuzzo, Chiarodia, Bartesaghi; Ndour, Lipani (Venturino 58), Dagasso; Cherubini (Fini 58), Ekhator (Raimondo 82), Koleosho (Cacciamani 74).
North Macedonia U21: Ljupke; Arizankoski, Meliqi, Djekov, Hamza; Angelov (Latifi 69), Maslarov (Sofijanoski 58); Danev (Stojanov 84), Durakov (Gjorgievski 58), Trajkov, Gashtarov.
Goals: Ndour 3, Lipani 49, Ekhator 50, Fini pen 86.
This result, as reported by Susy Campanale at Football Italia, seals top spot vibes for Italy. With the group nearly wrapped, Nunziata's got a golden crop – Ndour's header game, Lipani's persistence, Ekhator's opportunism. North Macedonia? Back to the drawing board, but fair play for turning up.
These U21s aren't just qualifying; they're entertaining like a proper Serie A thriller. Keep an eye – Euros glory beckons, and if they keep smacking the ball like this, who knows? Fancy a pint to celebrate?
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