Luxembourg 0-1 Italy: Pio Esposito decisive on night of debuts | OneFootball

Italy gave 15 players their senior debuts in an experimental side, but it was Francesco Pio Esposito who decided the 1-0 friendly victory over Luxembourg.

The Azzurri had the first of two international friendly tests under interim manager Silvio Baldini, promoted from the Under-21 side while seeking a replacement for Gennaro Gattuso after the World Cup play-off debacle. He called a largely untested squad, with only four players already having senior caps, but Marco Palestra didn’t start due to a slight adductor issue, so Catanzaro’s Costantino Favasuli stepped in at right-back as one of eight debutants.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

The starting XI for Italy against Luxembourg (@Azzurri)

Luca Lipani nodded over from a corner and Cher Ndour couldn’t keep his finish down, but Francesco Pio Esposito went inches wide with a cheeky back-heel flick on the Lipani roll across.

Pio Esposito also turned an acrobatic bicycle kick wide, then another of the Inter striker’s back-heel flicks set up Niccolò Pisilli, who hit the side-netting from a tricky angle.

Luca Koleosho should’ve done better when sent clear on goal only to scuff a weak finish straight at the ‘keeper.

Luca Koleosho plays for Italy in the friendly against Luxembourg (@Azzurri)

It was end to end on the stroke of half-time, as first Esposito’s strike was charged down, then Daniel Sinani fired just over from the tightest of angles.

Cher Ndour had an effort deflected over too by Jans, and Italy finally broke through from a Pisilli corner with the glancing Pio Esposito header at the near post.

Niccolò Pisilli plays for Italy against Luxembourg (@azzurri)

Koleosho was wasteful again moments later with a misplaced angled drive, while Pisilli was unlucky on 59 minutes to see his first-time strike thump the upright after a smart Favasuli roll across from the left.

Moreira’s counter-attack failed to trouble Gianluigi Donnarumma, and a Davide Bartesaghi volley was charged down, but Seydou Fini shinned the half-volley over from 10 yards after a long throw-in bounced in the box.

Francesco Camarda almost scored within 60 seconds of his senior debut, a glancing header wide from the Bartesaghi cross.

Pisilli threatened again, his shot charged down by a desperate Korac block, while Donnarumma rushed outside his box to nod a long ball clear.

Luxembourg 0-1 Italy

Pio Esposito 49 (I)

Luxembourg: Moris; Jans, Korac, Carlson, Michael Pinto (Mahmutovic 67); V Thill (S Thill 77), Martins, Olesen (Goncalves 87), Moreira (Duarte 87), Bohnert (Kadamani 67); Sinani (Curci 87)

Italy: Donnarumma; Favasuli (Fortini 67), Chiarodia, Comuzzo (Mane 76), Bartesaghi (Ahanor 89); Ndour, Lipani (Dagasso 76), Pisilli; Cherubini (Fini 67), Pio Esposito (Camarda 76), Koleosho (Inacio 89)

Ref: Kooj (NED)