The reigning European champions, Italy's Under-17 national team, finished second at the City of Trieste International Tournament after a 2-0 defeat to Spain at the Nereo Rocco. The Azzurrini conceded the first goal in the 22nd minute, scored by Athletic Bilbao talent Igor Oyono, before Asier Bonel, a forward for Osasuna, secured Spain's win with a second goal in the 40th minute.

"We played an excellent second half,” says coach Massimiliano Favo, “because we managed to play the kind of football I like. In the first half, however, our attitude was different. These tournaments help us grow, as well as understand what we’re missing and where we can improve with the qualities we have.”

MATCH: Italy lined up in their usual 4-3-1-2 formation, with Damiano playing behind the attacking duo of Campaniello and Inácio. Spain responded with a 4-3-3, featuring Igor Oyono and Adrián Pérez supporting Asier Bonel.

The Spaniards started much better than the Azzurrini. After a dangerous low left-footed shot by Igor Oyono, which Nava tipped out for a corner early on, they found the opening goal in the 22nd minute. It came courtesy of their number 11, who intercepted a less-than-perfect clearance from the Italian goalkeeper and scored with a well-placed curling left-footed shot from the edge of the box into a semi-open net. Favo's boys tried to respond, but Campaniello's diving header from a cross by Steffanoni on the right posed no real threat to the Spanish goalkeeper, Iker Rodríguez, who handled it well. A few minutes before halftime, Spain doubled their lead: Adrián Pérez, from the left side of the opponent's penalty area, centred for Asier Bonel to slot it past Nava with his right foot in a goalmouth scramble.

The second half began with a couple of chances for the Spaniards. First, a close-range left-footed shot by Adrián Pérez, followed by another curling effort from the ever-dangerous Igor Oyono. On both occasions, the Italian goalkeeper stepped up to make crucial saves. Italy, much more attacking compared to the first forty-five minutes, tried to pull one back through Lontani around the hour mark, but the number 11's right-footed shot was stopped by a watchful Iker Rodríguez. In the final moments, during injury time, the Azzurrini had another chance with Busiello, but the number 19's effort was easily gathered by the Spanish goalkeeper.

Italy 0-2 Spain 
Scorers: 22' Igor Oyono, 40' Asier Bonel.

ITALY (4-3-1-2) : Nava; Insignito, Iddrisa, Bovio, Marello (86' Lissi); Steffanoni (86' Carlaccini), Prisco ©, Tiozzo Pagio (41' Oliveira Papaccioli); Damiano (41' Lontani); Campaniello, Inácio (66' Busiello).
Unused subs: Farronato (P), Cretì, Acatullo, Isoa, Moressa.
Coach: Massimiliano Favo.

SPAIN (4-3-3) : Iker Rodríguez; Nil Teixidor (66' Pablo García), Alex Campos (80' Gonzalo Navarro), Álvaro Lezcano (80' Guillermo Anadón), Unai Vinicio (66' Iker Quintero); Pedro Fernández (57' Pedro Rodríguez), Nico Guillén (66' David Muñoz), Taufik Seidu © (66' Iago Barreiros); Igor Oyono (66' Manuel Montero), Asier Bonel (57' Dani Fernández), Adrián Pérez (57' Jaume Durá).
Unused Subs: Carlos Guirao (P).
Coach: Hernán Pérez.

Referee: Aleksandar Djurdjevic 
Assistants: Simone Della Mea, Marco Munitello
Fourth offical: Andrea Migliorini

Bookings: 34' Inácio (I), 49' Bovio (I), 52' Pedro Fernández (S), 54' Iddrisa (I), 77' Pedro Rodríguez (S).

UNDER-17 CITY OF TRIESTE INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT '

Single Group: ITALY, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland

Matchday 1 (Tuesday, 3 September)

• Spain 6-1 Switzerland
• ITALY 2-0 Portugal

Matchday 2 (Friday, 6 September)

• Portugal 0-1 Spain
• ITALY 2-2 Switzerland

Matchday 3 (Monday, 9 September)

• Switzerland 1-5 Portugal
• ITALY 0-2 Spain

Standings:

1. Spain 9
2. ITALY 4
3. Portugal 3
4. Switzerland 1