Italy Under-21s stylishly returned to winning ways with a 4-1 victory over Slovenia on Monday.
Italy had lost back-to-back games against Spain, but goals from Andrea Favilli, Federico Chiesa, Riccardo Orsolini and man-of-the-moment Patrick Cutrone (pictured) slayed Slovenia to end 2017 on a positive note.
Manuel Locatelli’s long ball over the top was expertly taken down by Cutrone, who fired home with just his second touch.
Italy Under-21s stylishly returned to winning ways with a 4-1 victory over Slovenia on Monday.
Italy had lost back-to-back games against Spain, but goals from Andrea Favilli, Federico Chiesa, Riccardo Orsolini and man-of-the-moment Patrick Cutrone (pictured) slayed Slovenia to end 2017 on a positive note.
Manuel Locatelli’s long ball over the top was expertly taken down by Cutrone, who fired home with just his second touch.
Such was the Azzurrini’s dominance that they went in at the break 3-0 up as Favilli and Chiesa each found the back of Rok Vodisek’s net.
Slovenia pulled one back early in the second half through Kramaric, but Atalanta loanee Riccardo Orsolini restored Italy’s three-goal lead with 11 minutes remaining.
Italy U21 4-1 Slovenia U21
Cutrone 22, Favilli 27, Chiesa 37, Orsolini 79 (I) Kramaric 52 (S)
Italy U21: Audero (Montipo 71); Romagna (Bonifazi 55), Mandragora, Pezzella (Calabresi 80), Calabria (Adjapong 46), Locatelli (Palombi 80), Barella (Murgia 46), Verde (Orsolini 70), Chiesa (Parigini 54), Favili, Cutrone (Vido 54)
Slovenia U21: Vodisek; Badzim, Gliha, Brecl, Rom, Zuzk, Pisek, Primc (Cesen 71), Humar, Kramaric (Kuhar 83), Ozbolt (Mlakar 58)
Referee: Pawson (ENG)