Esposito seals Italy’s 3-1 win over Turkey in Nations League clash
Italy moved to seven points in Group A1 after beating Turkey 3-1 in Bologna, with Francesco Pio Esposito’s late finish settling a demanding contest and keeping Roberto Mancini’s side in touch with France.
Italy recover after Turkey expose early disruption
Mancini made nine alterations from the team that drew with France, and the reshaped Italy side struggled to find rhythm at the start. Turkey carried the greater threat in the opening phase, stretching the hosts with their movement and repeatedly testing an unsettled defensive line.
Aral Simsir was at the centre of much of that early danger, but Italy struck first in the 26th minute. Vergara and Giovanni Di Lorenzo combined down the right before the Napoli captain delivered into the area. Gianluca Scamacca, whose earlier effort had been ruled out for offside, reacted after a deflection, brought the ball under control and smashed a volley against the underside of the bar and in.
Italy attempted to dictate possession through midfield after taking the lead, although Turkey remained dangerous on transition. Scamacca also went close from range before half-time as the Azzurri searched for a second goal.
Calafiori answers Turkey’s deserved leveller
Turkey resumed with more aggression and nearly punished a misunderstanding involving Gianluigi Donnarumma and Di Lorenzo. Simsir got around the Italy goalkeeper but was pushed wide, allowing Alessandro Bastoni to make a crucial recovery block.
Mancini sent on Riccardo Calafiori and Francesco Pio Esposito, but Turkey found their equaliser in the 61st minute. Yunus Akgun released Zeki Celik, whose cross was helped on by Eren Elmali. Simsir arrived at the far post to finish from close range.
Italy’s response was immediate. Four minutes later, Nicolo Barella earned a free-kick and supplied the delivery himself. Calafiori met the cross at the back post and directed a looping header over Ugurcan Cakir for his first Italy goal. Turkey appealed for an infringement in the build-up, but the goal was allowed to stand.
- Scamacca put Italy ahead in the 26th minute after Di Lorenzo’s right-sided delivery.
- Simsir levelled for Turkey in the 61st minute following Celik’s cross and Elmali’s touch.
- Calafiori restored Italy’s advantage four minutes later with his first international goal.
- Esposito completed the win in the 87th minute after Italy broke forward on the counter.
Late counter seals a vital Group A1 result
Turkey continued to threaten after falling behind again. Donnarumma produced a major save to keep out Salih Ozcan’s powerful right-footed attempt, while Baris Alper Yilmaz beat the offside line and tried to lift the ball over the advancing goalkeeper, only to send it wide.
Those escapes preceded Italy’s decisive third. Issa Doumbia won a duel near the touchline, drove into the penalty area and saw his shot blocked. Alessandro Romano collected the loose ball and drilled it across goal, with Esposito arriving to turn home from close range in the 87th minute.
The result extends Italy’s unbeaten run against Turkey to 16 matches. It also leaves the Azzurri just behind group leaders France after recovering from an earlier defeat to Belgium.
What happens next
Italy remain firmly in contention for a Nations League quarter-final place, with November fixtures against Belgium and France now set to define their group campaign.
Turkey stay bottom of Group A1 without a point. Vincenzo Montella’s team showed enough to trouble Italy, but their failure to hold the draw leaves them facing a serious threat of relegation to League B.
- Italy have seven points from four Group A1 matches.
- Calafiori scored his first goal for the national team.
- Esposito made the result secure after coming on as a substitute.
- Turkey’s pressing and counter-attacking caused Italy repeated problems, but set-piece delivery and squad depth proved decisive.
