Andrea Pinamonti’s cheeky Panenka penalty and more Alessandro Plizzari heroics proved enough for Italy to beat hosts Poland and reach the U20 World Cup quarter-finals.
The Azzurrini topped their group with wins over Mexico and Ecuador, then rotated the squad for their 0-0 draw with Japan. They will face either Argentina or Mali in the quarter-final on June 7.
Andrea Pinamonti’s cheeky Panenka penalty and more Alessandro Plizzari heroics proved enough for Italy to beat hosts Poland and reach the U20 World Cup quarter-finals.
The Azzurrini topped their group with wins over Mexico and Ecuador, then rotated the squad for their 0-0 draw with Japan. They will face either Argentina or Mali in the quarter-final on June 7.
After Marcel Zylla and Pinamonti drilled inches wide, a corner was flicked on and struck Dominik Steczyk on the hand for a penalty. Pinamonti stepped up and converted with a cheeky Panenka-style dink over the goalkeeper.
It should’ve been 2-0 on the stroke of half-time, but Gianluca Scamacca did all the hard work by shrugging off his marker only to balloon over from 12 yards.
Poland are hosting the tournament and came out far more aggressive in the second half, as Milan’s Alessandro Plizzari was forced to rush off his line and parry Zylla’s half-volley from point-blank range.
Plizzari flew to palm a long-range Michal Skoras strike out of the near top corner, then got down to push away the low drive, but Pinamonti got too cheeky when trying to chip it again after a defensive error and made it easy for the goalkeeper.
It was all Poland in the closing stages and substitute Adrian Benedyczak nodded off target, but the Azzurrini clung on under siege to reach the quarter-finals with Plizzari standing firm.
Italy 1-0 Poland
Pinamonti pen 38 (I)
Italy U20: Plizzari; Gabbia, Del Prato, Ranieri; Bellanova, Frattesi, Esposito (Alberico 89), Tripaldelli, Pellegrini; Scamacca (Capone 68), Pinamonti
Poland U20: Majecki; Szota (Benedyczak 83), Walukiewicz, Sobocinski, Stanilewicz (Puchacz 76); Makowski (Kopacz 59), Slisz; Bednarczyk, Zylla, Skoras; Steczyk
Andrea Pinamonti: Cool as a cucumber
What's your favourite panenka in football history?#U20WC pic.twitter.com/ZIOfiWFwom
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) June 2, 2019