Ninety minutes for Daniel Maldini and (with an assist) Alessandro Romano, the two Cagliari players who played in Italy's 3-1 victory over Turkey tonight. This victory propels Roberto Mancini's Azzurri into second place in League A of the Nations League, three points behind Group 1 leaders France.
In Bologna, however, it was a more closely contested match than last Monday's 4-1 win in Bursa, also against Vincenzo Montella's national team. Italy broke the deadlock in the 26th minute, with a cross from Di Lorenzo that rebounded in the box, allowing Scamacca to score. Turkey equalized in the 61st minute, after a strong start to the second half, with a tap-in from Şimşir following a low cross from the right. However, in the 65th minute, Cagliari's Nicolò Barella (also a starter, replaced in the 70th minute) sent a free kick from the right to the far post, and Calafiori headed over his marker to give Italy the lead again.
In the 87th minute, Italy sealed the victory: Doumbia made a brilliant run, coming close to scoring several times, but his shot was blocked, but Romano came on and his cross-shot was saved by substitute Francesco Pio Esposito, his seventh goal in thirteen appearances for the Azzurri. Rossoblu president Tommaso Giulini and coach Fabio Pisacane also arrived in the stands from Cagliari.
