Italy clinch Under-19 crown

No way back
The Portuguese may have retrieved two-goal deficits in their two previous games but they had no answer after conceding twice in the opening half-hour and lost substitute Flávio Igor to a late red card.

First Italian success
The Italians' success was their first at this level and brought revenge for a defeat by Portugal in the 1999 final, when this tournament was an Under-18 event, four years ago to this day. Italy opened the scoring in the third minute when Giorgio Chiellini crossed from the left and Della Rocca powered a header past Paulo Ribeiro.

Italy stronger
In front of 4,500 spectators in the Rheinpark stadium, Italy were soon dictating matters in midfield - where they looked stronger and sharper - and Portugal, missing suspended defender Miguel Angelo, were unable to produce their usual fluent passing game.

Amoreirinha clearance
Save for two Hugo Almeida efforts, Italy created all the first-half openings. On 25 minutes it took a goal-line clearance from Amoreirinha to keep out Pazzini's shot after he had beaten Daniel inside the area and lofted a shot beyond Paulo Ribeiro.

Pazzini strike
The Atalanta BC striker did score two minutes later, however, as he turned the ball home after Alberto Aquilani's free-kick had been deflected into his path.

Went for broke
Portugal went for broke at the beginning of the second half, with Fonseca, a 39th-minute substitute, joining their three forwards already on the pitch. Hugo Almeida steered a shot just past the post then, following a goalmouth scramble, Adriano D'Astolfo headed off the line.

Portuguese pressure
Portugal continued to apply pressure. Amoreirinha missed a clear header at the far post from Hélio Pinto's cross on 66 minutes. Then Marco Paolini beat out an Organista shot. A goal did not come, however, and instead both Chiellini and Pazzini missed chances to extend Italy's lead in the closing stages.

Red card
The game grew increasingly ill-tempered - there were ten yellow cards in all - and Portugal substitute Flávio Igor was sent off two minutes from the end after a foul on Padoin.