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Just when everything seemed lost, the Under-17 National Team and reigning European champions completed an epic comeback to beat Ukraine 2-1 in Lučko in Group A1 of round 2 of Euro qualifying.

After hitting the post in the eleventh minute through Napoli midfielder Vincenzo Prisco, the Azzurrini fell behind after a 28th-minute own goal by Inter defender Noah Bovio, but they dug deep to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat thanks to goals from Stade de Reims defender Jean Tryfose Mambuku (90’) and Juventus attacker Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale (92’).

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“It was a one-sided match which we dominated,” said Head Coach Massimiliano Favo. “Had we lost, it would have been completely unjust. I’m pleased for the lads, who showed the character to win a game where, after hitting the post and conceding via an own goal, nothing seemed to be going our way. Despite dominating and creating numerous chances, it didn’t seem like things would change, but we got a late equaliser and managed to score a winner. I’m satisfied with the lads, who, despite various difficulties, showed great character and delivered a brilliant performance.”

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ITALY 2-1 UKRAINE

ITALY (4-3-1-2): Longoni; Iddrisa (46’ Mambuku), Bovio, Reggiani © (75’ Borasio ©), Giani; Steffanoni (46’ Campaniello), Prisco, Luongo (69’ Baralla); Maccaroni; Arena (69’ Elimoghale), Inácio. Substitutes: Maran (P), Ridolfi, Forte. Head Coach: Massimiliano Favo.

UKRAINE (4-3-3) : Khadasevych; Melnyk (46’ Muradian), Mylokost, Kostiuk, Kaliuzhnyi; Kutia, Petrovski, Liusin © (55’ Tkachenko ©); Hamzyk (83’ Zalypka), Zudin © (63’ Kucheriavyi), Zubriy (63’ Shyshkevych). Substitutes: Krapivin (P), Onishchuk, Sereda, Dzhurabaiev. Head Coach: Oleksandr Sytnyk.

Referee: Gal Levi (Israel). Assistants: Tuval Koltunoff (Israel) and Dario Kolarević (Croatia). Fourth official: Antonio Melnjak (Croatia).

Goalscorers: 28’ own goal. Bovio (I), 90’ Mambuku (I), 90+2’ Elimoghale (I).

Notes:  Maccaroni (I), Tkachenko (U), Kaliuzhnyi (U), Elimoghale (I), Kostiuk (U) and Luongo (I) booked. Stoppage time: 1', 6'.

UEFA European Under-17 Championship | League A | Group A1

Matchday 1 (Wednesday 19 March)
Ukraine 1-2 Croatia
Italy 1-0 Slovakia

Matchday 2 (Saturday 22 March)
Italy 2-1 Ukraine
Croatia 2-1 Slovakia

Table: Croatia 6, ITALY 6, Ukraine 0, Slovakia 0.

Matchday 3 (Tuesday 25 March)
15:30 CET: Croatia vs. Italy, Stadion Lučko, Lučko
15:30 CET: Slovakia vs. Ukraine, Stadion sv. Josipa Radnika