Cesena’s Manuzzi brought good results to the Italians who beat Latvia 2-0 thanks to goals from Cesare Casadei and Giovanni Fabbian. The star of Chelsea’s Romagna talent who grew up in Cesena’s youth team shines and breaks the deadlock thanks to a good turn in the first half. In the second half the Bologna midfielder doubled his lead, closing the game. Bologna defender Calafiori was also highlighted, but it’s no longer new. Italy Under 21 consolidates its top position in the qualifying group ahead of Euro 2025 in Slovakia. The Latvians were rather compliant, the result for the Italians could have been more rounded, but the important thing was to collect the three points.
In the stands at the Manuzzi many well-known faces, just to name a few Alberto Zaccheroni, the Cesena coach Domenico Toscano, the former Cavalluccio sporting director Moreno Zebi, the current one Fabio interno, the mayor Enzo Lattuca. Before the match, a minute of silence in honor of Joe Barone, general director of Fiorentina who died in recent days due to a heart attack. The Maltese Philip Farrugia blows the whistle.
The Azzurri coach Carmine Nunziata lines up Casadei from Romagna from Cervia and Miretti from Juventus behind the lone striker Gnonto who plays as a false new player. At Manuzzi the enthusiasm of the many kids present in the sector distinguished itself. In the eighth minute N’Dour’s sharp right-foot shot goes wide, two minutes later Gnonto narrowly misses the chance to get the ball on an inviting cross from the right, in the 25th minute Casadei blocked a few steps from the goal. In the 31st minute Cesare Casadei broke the deadlock with a nice right-footed shot. The blue star of the young Cervia midfielder who grew up in the Cesena youth team that he left after the failure of 2018 shines. We go to half-time at 0-0 but the result could have been more rounded for Nunziata’s Azzurri, Latvia practically non-existent in the attacking phase .
In the 49th Gnonto was close to doubling his lead, the little Leeds striker came close to scoring with his head, one minute Miretti hit the post from a tight angle, the Azzurri increased their pressure. In the 63rd minute Gnonto comes close to doubling the lead again, after a slalom in the area he unloads his left foot but an opponent providentially blocks it. In the 66th minute Nunziata calls Juventus player Miretti to insert Pio Esposito. In the 71st minute the little number 10 and Italian captain falls in the area but the referee lets it continue. Fabbian doubled the score in the 79th minute, ending a match that had never been in question. Triple substitution for Nunziata, Fazzini, Kayode and Oristanio enter, Casadei exit amidst applause, Zanotti and Gnonto. The last minutes are pure routine for the Azzurri who take home the three points.
