National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725,
Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Flavio Graziani made the kick off which started today's match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Pablo Zeballos got free with Ferruccio Di Mario in the 3rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 4th minute U21 Paraguay were awarded a corner. Misael Toledano went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner ended in Rico Galdeano almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but U21 Italy's Ferruccio Di Mario did a great save. When the match clock showed 5 minutes, the score became 1-0 when Rico Galdeano sped through U21 Italy's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Ferruccio Di Mario. In the 10thth minute of the game Cristoforo Falcone who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Paraguay's Ekialde Frances was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Honesto Tovar received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Ferruccio Di Mario tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Flavio Graziani in the 14th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Ekialde Frances prevented the ball from getting in the gole. U21 Italy's Ferruccio Di Mario proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 20th minute of the match, managed to save U21 Italy from getting a goal against them. In the 21st minute of the match Ercole Casiraghi shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Ekialde Frances showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Flavio Graziani in the 31st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ekialde Frances saved U21 Paraguay from getting behind. In the 35thth minute of the game Flavio Graziani who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but U21 Paraguay's Ekialde Frances was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 35th match minute, U21 Italy was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ercole Casiraghi to maneuver through the defense. 38 minutes into the match, U21 Paraguay's goal looked a bit too open when Cristoforo Falcone came free, but Ekialde Frances reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 39 minutes into the game, Emilio Albanesi was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. U21 Italy's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave U21 Paraguay the free kick. Emilio Albanesi kicked well hit freekick during the 39th minute of the match. A hard shot by Misael Toledano from long distance, 40 minutes into the match, got Ferruccio Di Mario's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. Ekialde Frances took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Flavio Graziani, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 43 minutes, Misael Toledano mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 Paraguay and the U21 Italy players grew even worse after the yellow card. With a little luck, U21 Italy's Ferruccio Di Mario got control of the ball when Pablo Zeballos tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 47th minute, Ferdinando Ruzzi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of U21 Italy booed when U21 Paraguay was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 49 match minutes in a wonderful position. Misael Toledano didn't get a good kick on the ball.
The wind increased when Honesto Tovar made the kick off in the second half. Misael Toledano sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Cristoforo Falcone could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 58th minute of the match, but Ekialde Frances made a huge save. The audience was convinced that Flavio Graziani's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Ekialde Frances was relentless in the 62nd minute of the game. 62 minutes into the game, Flavio Graziani lined in a short shot 2-1 behind a frustrated Ekialde Frances. U21 Paraguay's Nardo Victorica was substituted for Rico Galdeano. With a little luck, U21 Paraguay's Ekialde Frances got control of the ball when Flavio Graziani tried to sneak it across the goal line. When the match clock showed 71 minutes, the score became 2-2 when Flavio Graziani sped through U21 Paraguay's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Ekialde Frances. U21 Italy's Fortunato Fontana was substituted for Emilio Albanesi. U21 Paraguay made a substitution. Lilian Thuram replaced Maria Baldaliso. Ekialde Frances made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gheorghe Hagi in the 76th minute of play. In the last second Ekialde Frances throw himself and got hold of the ball when Flavio Graziani in the 77thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. Emilio Orlandi hit a great freekick 77 minutes into the match. 81 minutes into the match, Flavio Graziani notched a goal, 2-3, to the right of U21 Paraguay's Ekialde Frances. Ekialde Frances was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. 84 minutes into the game, Flavio Graziani cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-4. Ekialde Frances was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Cesare Mucci charged in rather forcefully in the 86th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Cesare Mucci the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. U21 Italy's Ferruccio Di Mario played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Milio Orantes in the 90th minute of play. With a little luck, U21 Paraguay's Ekialde Frances got control of the ball when Frank Ascani tried to sneak it across the goal line. Ekialde Frances made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Flavio Graziani in the 96th minute of play. Ekialde Frances took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Flavio Graziani, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. U21 Italy were awarded a corner in the 100th minute after U21 Paraguay's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Anthony Antonelli took the corner. The corner ended in Anthony Antonelli almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but U21 Paraguay's Ekialde Frances did a great save. The U21 Italy supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing U21 Italy would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.
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