Italy savour last-gasp victory

By Paul Saffer at Stadio Comunale Libero Mansini

Italy booked their passage to the FIFA U-17 World Championship after clinching third place in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship with a last-gasp Davide Di Gennaro goal in extra time.

Peru passage
The score was level at 1-1 at the end of 80 minutes, after Lorenzo De Silvestri's second-half strike was instantly cancelled out by Nikola Kalinic, who then missed a penalty. But with a shoot-out looming, substitute Di Gennaro struck, and the hosts will join today's finalists Turkey and the Netherlands in Peru from 16 September until 2 October.

Santarelli starts
With the continued suspension of goalkeeper Enrico Alfonso, along with midfield player Ivan Castiglia, UEFA gave Italy permission to call up Simone Santarelli, and he started, while Marco Dalla Costa took over from Andrea Russotto up front. Croatia also made changes, with Grgur Radoš stepping in for Damir Vidovic and Stipe Glasovic replaced Milan Badelj, while Dejan Lovren's one-game ban handed Saša Vukonic a start.

Foti efforts
Santarelli was given little time to settle and was called into action early to deny Grgur Radoš. Italy made an early change, bringing on Russotto, who had scored both their finals goals before today. However, clear chances for either side were at a premium before the interval.

Useful saves
the second half was more open, and Ivan Kelava pushed away a Salvatore Foti header soon after the restart, while the other end Santarelli made a double save from Grgur Radoš and then Kalinic on the follow-up. However, both goalkeepers were soon beaten.

Goal apiece
On the hour, Italy captain De Silvestri headed in Marco Mancosu's corner. But Croatia immediately responded, Krešo Ljubicic crossing for Kalinic to touch past Santarelli.

Penalty miss
Di Gennaro, by now on for Foti, made Kelava dive to stop a shot, and the goalkeeper then denied Dalla Costa. With six minutes left Kalinic broke into the box, and as he rounded Santarelli he was felled by the Italy custodian, but the striker missed from the spot.

Post struck
Russotto then headed a Michael Cia cross on to the post as the game drifted into extra time. Italy lost their semi-final against the Netherlands in extra time and their defence was again breached here, but Glasovic's header was ruled out. And in the last minute Di Gennaro burst through the Croatia defence, kept his nerve, and ensured a South American campaign for Italy.