U21 | Armenia 0-1 Italy: Cisse to the rescue after Koleosho penalty miss

FLORENCE, ITALY - JANUARY 17: Alphadjo Cisse’ of Italy looks on during the International Friendly between Italy U19 and Spain U19 at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on January 17, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Italy hit the crossbar twice in Armenia and Luca Koleosho saw his penalty saved, but Milan talent Alphadjo Cisse snatched a last-gasp winner to keep European U21 Championship qualifying hopes alive.

The Azzurrini knew their only hope of topping the group and earning direct qualification to the European Championship was to beat Armenia and then win the head-to-head with Poland.

Frosinone striker Antonio Raimondo pulled out through injury, so Francesco Camarda started despite barely getting any playing time at Milan this season.

Armenia were dangerous early doors with a few counter-attacks and a Hakobyan effort from the edge of the area, but Seydou Fini wasted a golden opportunity on 20 minutes when nodding the Luca Koleosho cross inches wide of the near post.

His Frosinone teammate Lorenzo Palmisani made a tricky low save on Misak Hakobyan, while Cher Ndour couldn’t keep his header on target from the Niccolò Pisilli corner.

Camarda forced a save after the restart and Milan talent Alphadjo Cisse thought his curler had opened the scoring, only to see it smack against the crossbar.

Luck was really not on Italy’s side today, as Niccolò Fortini knocked on a Mattia Liberali free kick for Pietro Comuzzo’s header again onto the frame of the goal.

The Azzurrini received a penalty for Petik Manukyan’s handling offence on an acrobatic Cisse flick, but Koleosho saw his spot-kick saved by Hayk Ghazaryan.

Cisse was the last to give up and after forcing a sensational save from Ghazaryan with a left-foot volley from the edge of the area, the 19-year-old snatched a last-gasp winner.

The Armenian goalkeeper made another wonderful save to deny Luigi Cherubini, and this time Cisse was ready to pounce on the rebound.

Cisse 95 (I)

Saved penalty: Koleosho 77 (I)

Armenia U21: Ghazaryan; Tsarukyan, Manukyan, A Hakobyan, Krmzian; Askaryan, D Hakobyan (Kirakosian 61), Sargsyan (Ayvazyan 46); Harutyunyan (Davytan 61), Eloyan (Vardanyan 75), M Hakobyan (Vardanyan 75)

Italy U21: Palmisani; Favasuli (Lulli 46), Chiarodia, Comuzzo, Moruzzi (Fortini 52); Ndour, Lipani (Liberali 46), Pisilli; Fini (Cisse 46), Camarda, Koleosho (Cherubini 79)