National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725,
Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) After some fancy dribbling in the 5th minute, Pavel Alexandru managed to get in a good position for a shot. Romania's supporters rose to their feet, but Pavel Alexandru was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dennis Mangione breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 11th minute, Alfredo Grasso hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Dennis Mangione made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sebastian Ababei in the 12th minute of play. Dennis Mangione showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Pavel Alexandru, who was totally free with the ball in the 15th minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Pavel Alexandru in the 17th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Dennis Mangione saved Italy from getting behind. Dennis Mangione showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Pavel Alexandru, who was totally free with the ball in the 19th minute. After some careless play in the Italy defense, Pavel Alexandru kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Dennis Mangione. The Italy fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Dennis Mangione should have stopped the shot. With a little luck, Romania's Iurie Pescaru got control of the ball when Elia Rossetti tried to sneak it across the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Elia Rossetti got free with Iurie Pescaru in the 22nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. When the match clock showed 24 minutes, the score became 1-1 when Florian Perazzolo sped through Romania's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Iurie Pescaru. After a defensive mix-up in Italy's zone, Pavel Alexandru stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dennis Mangione came out of the goal and Pavel Alexandru tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Pavel Alexandru in the 30th minute of play forced Italy's goalkeeper Dennis Mangione to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 33 minutes into the match, Romania's goal looked a bit too open when Florian Perazzolo came free, but Iurie Pescaru reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Elia Rossetti blasted a shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Iurie Pescaru having to make a save. Elia Rossetti's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Iurie Pescaru read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 35th minute of play. In the 47th minute Pavel Alexandru shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Dennis Mangione saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.
Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Florian Perazzolo to make the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Emanuel Alexiu in the 52nd minute of play forced Italy's goalkeeper Dennis Mangione to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Sebastian Ababei fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dennis Mangione having to interfere. Italy made a substitution. Ciro Cicchinelli replaced Antonio Coscia. Pavel Alexandru blasted a shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Dennis Mangione having to make a save. The audience thought a goal was coming when Pavel Alexandru got free with Dennis Mangione in the 62nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 67th minute, Elia Rossetti ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Iurie Pescaru was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. Romania's Toader Tănasă was substituted for Sebastian Ababei. Romania's Iurie Pescaru played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Elia Rossetti in the 72nd minute of play. In the 77th minute Elia Rossetti shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Iurie Pescaru saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Italy made a substitution. Augusto Zisser replaced Florian Perazzolo. 80 minutes had been played when some careless play by Romania's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Fabio Albertini was slow to take the kick. During this time Italy's players had a chance to rest. After taking down the ball on Italy's corner Attilio Giammaria fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Iurie Pescaru quite easily take care of the ball. Iurie Pescaru took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Elia Rossetti, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 82nd minute Elia Rossetti shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Iurie Pescaru saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 84th match minute, Romania was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ciprian Cunea to maneuver through the defense. In the 86th minute Augusto Zisser shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Iurie Pescaru saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 90 minutes into the match, Romania's goal looked a bit too open when Elia Rossetti came free, but Iurie Pescaru reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Iurie Pescaru showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Augusto Zisser in the 96th minute of the match. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Italy had won after a very even match.
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