By Anna Italia
Covering the UEFA Under 21 European Championship from an Italian Perspective



                   Italy 2 - 0 Hungary 
                             25' Stefano Okaka
                                       81' Marrone

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Italy jumping from the 4th position to the 2nd position after defeating the Under 21 Hungary with goals by Stefano Okaka and Marrone. Italy Under 21is now in the second position of Group 3 with 10 points behind Wales with 13 points.

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Get ready to root for the Under 21 Italy team in the UEFA Under 21 European Championship against the Under 21 Hungary.

I am watching  the match on RAI ITALIA and waving  my Italian flag to support our Under 21 Italy team, the Azzurrini.  Join me guys.


Here is the official starting eleven formation for ITALY Under 21 by coach Pierluigi Casiraghi:

UNDER 21 ITALY (4-4-2): Mannone, Lorenzo De Silvestre (C), Bellusci, Bolzoni, Ariaudo, Ogbonna, Schelotto, Poli, Okaka, Mario Balotelli, and Borini.

Mannone playing his third match for the Azzurrini...


Here is the official starting eleven formation for HUNGARY Under 21 by coach Sándor Egervári:

UNDER 21 HUNGARY (4-4-2): Gulacsi, Kádár, Debreceni, Korcsmar, Koman, J.  Varga, Futács, Lencse, Lázár, Elek, and Gosztonyi.

Italy Under 21  have won 5 titles already, but the challenge is to win today.  Players are ready, and fans in Rieti displaying a "Thank You banner" for the squad.   There are about 10,000 fans at the stadium. Hope is on Inter forward Mario Balotelli to pull the team.  Balotelli has scored 6 goals with the Under 21 in 15 games. I am ready, come on Azzurrini.

The Musical Band of the "Citta di Rieti" is ready to play the anthem....

Players making their entrance and a roaring applause for the Italian Under 21 players.

Hungary anthem playing first... close ups from Hungarian players... while TV cameramen shows also Hungarian fans at the stadium displaying banners and flags supporting their team.

Now, the moment for Italy national anthem.. L'inno di Mameli.....  wow, I have goosebumps just watching our guys singing the anthem and fireworks with the color of the Italian flag  next to the Italian flag, it is awesome.   We are ready......

Photo Getty Images.
Italy Under 21 Official Starting Eleven Formation during the UEFA Under 21 European Championship Group 3 Qualifying Round, Italy U21 vs Hungary U21, Wednesday, March 3, 2010.

Close up from FIGC President Abete watching the game from the tribune... 

This is it, guys, showtime, Referee Clément Turpin whistles the beginning of the match, come on Azzurrini....

First attempt for the Azzurrini but Ogbonna wearing number 6 is offside.....

Uffa what a luck guys!  In the 2nd minute, Italy with the first clear chance when Borini heads the ball from almost the center, close range position but goes directly to the arms of the goalkeeper and is a save... 

In the 4th minute, Bellusci commits a foul on Futacs and is free kick for Hungary....

Italy presing..  and wait a minute, in the 8th minute Mario balotelli is on the ground after a foul from behind from Varga ... Balotelli is protesting  with the referee, and he needs to calm down.... fans are whistling right now... don't know if it is for the referee or Balotelli.. oh well, one thing is clear that Balotelli must calm down and watch his attitude towards match officials or risk being sent off...

Photo Getty Images
Italy U21 forward Stefano Okaka helping his buddy forward Mario Balotelli getting up after a foul during the UEFA U21 European Championship Group 3 Qualifying Round.


In the 12th minute, Borini coming from the left  with a shot to Schelotto and Kadar concedes a corner for Italy...  Borini takes the corner.... cleared.... Balotelli commits a foul ....

Italy keep pressing  but not a clear final action... needs communication between Schelotto, Balotelli .... 

Oops... in the 15th minute, a move from Borini trying to find Balotelli but the the ball ends in the way of Schelotto with the chance  unmarked and shoots over the bar..... oh well, come on...

In the 17th minute, Debreceni commits a foul on Balotelli ...  free kick for Italy.... Balotelli takes a right footed shot and missing the target to the right...
. 
In the 18th minute, Futacs challenging Italy goalkeeper Mannone and he saves..

Italy reacts...in the 21st minute,  Uffa, another chance for Italy when Balotelli coming from the left side sends a long shot to Okaka though it is cleared by Debreceni....Italy is gaining speed and we might see a goal soon...   come on guys.

Oh my gosh, guys, Italy so close to score  in the 23rd minute, a right footed shot from Schelotto though Hungary goalkeeper Gulacsi  deviates for corner... 

wow,wow, wow. now we are rocking guys.. GOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL in the 25th minute, Okaka  scoring with a right footed shot freeing himself from two Hungarian players.. Debreceni first trying to  take the ball away but Okaka manipulates his own way while Kadar arrives from the right and seems he touches the ball but anyway, guys, it was pure art from Oaka blasting Hungary goalkeeper Gulacsi in the left  and there it is GOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL  fans  shouting ITALIA, ITALIA, ITALIA....
Italy 1 - 0 Hungary

Photo Getty Images
Just awesome, Italy forward Stefano Okaka congratulated by his teammates for his opening goal against the Under 21 Hungary during the UEFA Under  Championship Group 3 at the Stadio Centro D'Italia in Rieti. Thumbs up for Okaka!


First yellow card of the match, in the 29th minute, Bolzoni gets a yellow card for a foul on J. Varga.

I am loving the match from Okaka guys.  in the 31st minute, again, a precious pass from Bellusci to Okaka, then sending to Balotelli, ending on the way of Schelotto,  but at the end cleared... though, great  effort from Okaka.

Balotelli with a chance on goal but ball deviated, corner for Italy.... in the 33rd minute.Borini akes the corner...
 
In the 35th minute, Okaka getting an assist by Bolzoni  and Hungary goalkeeper gulacsi anticipates  Okaka.... oh well, guys, the Azzurrini are pressing and  we are ready....

Second yellow card of the match in the 37th minute, Referee Turpin books Lazar for a foul on Poli.

Oh gosh....  in the 38th minute, Balotelli on the ground after a foul by Gosztonyi,  but there is no yellow card for Hungary..

In the 41st minute, another effort for Italy but Balotelli brought down by Lazar... free kick for Italy....

In the 44th minute, Balotelli coming from the right making a pass to Schelotto... deflects...  corner for Italy. Balotelli takes the corner...

Last attempt in the 45th minute for Italy but Okaka is offside....     Referee whistles the end of the first half.. first half ends 51% ball possession Italy and 49% ball possession Hungary.

We are ready for the second half now.....

Hungary coach starts with a substitution in the 46th minute
Varga in,   Gosztonyi  out

In the 48th minute, Kadar commits a foul on Balotelli,,, free kick for Italy.. Balotelli takes the kick and wow, almost a goal though Hungary goalkeeper Gulacsi denying the joy to shout a goal.....
 
In the 50th minue, Borini with a chance to score though his shot goes over the bar.

Guys, Italy is pressing and you can see constant  communication between Okaka, Balotelli, Schelotto...

In the 53rd minute, another foul on Balotelli.

Oh no.. guys,  in the 56th minute, Referee Turpin gives a yellow card to Schelotto for a foul on Koman bringing him down. Schelotto signals with the hand that he did not commit the foul.. but, still, the yellow card is given.  free kick for Hungary. Lencse takes the free kick ending too far from the goal....

In the 59th minute, Borini from the right looking for Schelotto and gives a shot where Gulacsi see no problem saving. 

Okaka making dribblings getting his way towards the goal while J. Varga try to pull him from the jersey, Okaka continues, and  blocked  when arriving to the final spot ...

Borini on the ground, players asking for a penalty, but Referee Turpin continues with the game... Borini sill on the ground...

In the 65th minute, Balotelli  freeing himself from 2 players makes the assist to Okaka who was in front of the goal and don't ask me how.. but hello... Okaka did not get the ball to shoot and we wasted a brilliant chance to score from close range....

No, my gosh.. now we are in deep trouble... In the 66th minute, Bolzoni gets a second yellow card for a foul on Varga and it is now a RED CARD.... Italy remaining with 10 players...

Now, trying to strengthen the squad, Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi makes a substitution in the 68th minute
Marrone int, Boroni out

In the 69th minute, Okaka commits a foul on Debreceni.....

Oh my gosh, guys, in the 73rd minute, now the situation is even.  Referee Turpin gives the second yellow card to Kadar for a foul on Okaka and it is the red card for Kadar..... now, both teams with 10 players.

GOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL  in the 81st minute, now we are talking, we are rocking... a super goal...  first Okaka with a back heel to ..  and  there you   go Marrone wearing his yellow cleat  delivering a left footed shot blasting Hngary goalkeeper Gulacsi in the right GOOOOALLLLL  goal , uepppppaaaaaaaaaaaa  it is goal, po po po po po and mamma mia, the guy is happy, hello, are you kidding me, Marrone  came as a sub and scoring hello,, so, let me now jump and do the cheerleading for the Azzurrini, forza Italia.... A total joy even from the bench, and Casiraghi jumping celebrating the goal too.. the fans waving their Italian flags
Italy 2 - 0 Hungary

In the 84th minute, Hungary almost shortening the distance though Koman misses the target from a long range shot..

In the 88th minute, Elek commits a foul on Marrone...

In the 89th minute, Italy makes a substitution.
Mario Balotelli out, Davide Di Gennaro in
Balotelli leaves the field not happy with himself you can tell, but hello, thumbs up... Balotelli played well.  Surely, he wanted to score but was not possible on this one.  though, great group effort with Balotelli.  thumbs up.

Three minutes added time..

Players are celebrating on the field,  the joy is  obvious, fans applauding the squad, and Casiraghi happy.  Mission accomplished.

This is it guys.... Referee Turpin whistles the end of the match.  Italy Under 21  won!  Italy still with a chance to qualify to the next round... and now we are rocking and ready for the match of the Azzurri Italy vs Cameroon. 

Mission Accomplished....  Italy Under 21 coach Pierluigi Casiraghi and FICG Italian Football Federation President Giancarlo Abete.

Photo Getty Images

Here is the current UEFA Under 21 Championship Group 3 Standing Before the match.

Rank	Teams	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Wales	6	4	1	1	14	5	9	13
2	Hungary	4	3	0	1	7	4	3	9
3	Bosnia-Herzegovina	5	2	1	2	4	5	-1	7
4	Italy	5	2	1	2	8	5	3	7
5	Luxembourg	8	1	1	6	2	16	-14	4

 UEFA Under 21 European Championship Group Stage - Qualifying Round

Under 21 Italy  - Under 21 Hungary
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
18:00 CET ( 18:00 ) -
Centro d'Italia - Rieti

Referee: Clément Turpin
Assistant referee: Christophe Capelli, David Benech
Fourth official: Philippe Malige
UEFA Delegate: Mikalai Varabyov

Attendance:

Scorers:

LINEUPS


UNDER 21 ITALY: Mannone, De Silvestre (C), Bellusci, Bolzoni, Ariaudo, Ogbonna, Schelotto, Poli, Okaka, Mario Balotelli, and Borini.

Substitutes:  Perin, Bianco, Angella, Marrone, Mustacchio, Di Gennaro, Marilungo

Coach:  Pierluigi Casiraghi


UNDER 21 HUNGARY: Gulacsi, Kádár, Debreceni, Korcsmar, Koman, Varga, Futács, Lencse, Lázár, Elek, and Gosztonyi.

Coach: Sándor Egervári:

Match Stats


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What do you think of the results?  Which players surprised you or disappointed you and why?

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