Italy 5-1 Armenia U21: Camarda top striker at the double | OneFootball

Italy continued their strong Under-21 qualifying campaign with a 5-1 victory over Armenia, as Francesco Camarda bagged a brace, but Cher Ndour missed a penalty.

The Azzurrini were joint top of their group with Poland after winning all three games under coach Silvio Baldini, including last week’s 4-0 victory over Sweden.

Luca Marianucci was almost made to pay for a moment of distraction when Arayik Eloyan pounced in the final third, but the Armenian striker horribly scuffed his finish when clear on goal.

Italy failed to make their domination count, as Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour saw his header smack against the upright on 22 minutes with the goalkeeper well beaten.

CREMONA – OCTOBER 14: Arayik Eloyan fights with Cher Ndour and Luca Marianucci during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

Moments later, Ndour was brought down by Artem Bandikian for a penalty, but the same player saw his spot-kick parried by Gor Matinyan.

Ndour had another headed attempt, while Luca Lipani’s effort was charged down before Italy finally broke through.

Substitute Matteo Dagasso sprung the offside trap on a truly inspired Niccolò Pisilli through ball and kept his cool to beat the goalkeeper one-on-one.

The second arrived a few minutes later, as Koleosho won it back in midfield and threaded through for Davide Bartesaghi down the left, who generously rolled it across for his fellow Milan academy product Camarda’s tap-in from six yards.

However, Armenia had a huge opportunity to score too when a ball was rolled across from the left for Artur Garibyan to toe-poke at full stretch, drawing a tricky save out of Lorenzo Palmisani.

CREMONA – OCTOBER 14: Coach Silvio Baldini listens to the national anthem during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

Italy made sure with 17-year-old Camarda’s third goal in two games, ready to nod in the hooked Dagasso cross from the left byline.

Pisilli went on a slalom through defenders and the angled drive was fingertipped into the path of Seydou Fini to tap in for 4-0 from five yards.

The Azzurrini still managed to gift a goal to Armenia, as Bartesaghi’s weak back-pass surprised Palmisani, allowing Edik Vardanyan to pounce.

There was more bad news, as Niccolò Fortini received two yellow cards in the space of three minutes, reducing Italy to 10 men. It was particularly remarkable considering he had only come on eight minutes earlier.

They threatened a fifth goal anyway, as first the Koleosho strike from the edge of the area and then the Pisilli follow-up both bounced off the upright on 88 minutes.

Jeff Ekhator did round out the scoreline in stoppages with an angled drive, again inspired by Koleosho.

CREMONA, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Italy U21 players pose before the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

Italy 5-1 Armenia

Dagasso 59 (I), Camarda 62, 72 (I), Fini 75 (I), Vardanyan 78 (A), Ekhator 91 (I)

Saved penalty: Ndour 26 (I)

Sent off: Fortini 85 (I)

Italy U21: Palmisani; Palestra (Fortini 77), Marianucci (Guarino 46), Mane, Bartesaghi; Pisilli, Lipani, Ndour (Dagasso 46); Cherubini (Fini 73), Camarda (Ekhator 73), Koleosho

Armenia U21: Matinyan; Tarloyan, Manukyan, Hakobyan (Vardanyan 68), Bandikian; K Hovhannisyan (Askaryan 68), N Hovhannisyan (Afyan 68), H Sargsyan (Ayvazyan 76), D Hakobyan; M Hakobyan, Eloyan (Garibyan 57)

Ref: Levi (ISR)