MILAN - After finishing the regular season second behind Atalanta, Andrea Zanchetta’s Under-17s faced Francesco Pedone’s Juventus in the first leg of the quarter-finals at the playoff stage. At the Suning Youth Development Centre in Memory of Giacinto Facchetti, the match ended 2-4. Vergani (penalty) and Ntube scored for the home side while Pinelli, Di Francesco, Ramadam and Leone found the net for the Bianconeri.
Juventus were on the front foot early with the two wide men creating problems. A long shot from Leone led to the corner from which the Bianconeri took the lead in the fourth minute as Pinelli volleyed in. Inter didn’t wait long to react. Cester had a chance followed by two for Fonseca. In the 26th minute, Vergani made it 1-1 after converting from the spot after Cester went down. There were three chances at the end of the half for the Nerazzurri with the main one falling for Rossi but the opening 45 finished with the score at 1-1.
As in the first half, Juventus started the second half on top and went ahead once more after five minutes through Di Francesco. Pirola and then Fonseca went close to making it 2-2 but Siano did well on both occasions to preserve his side’s lead. Juve were playing on the break and the substitute Ramadam made it 1-3. Things became more difficult for Inter went Vaghi picked up a second yellow card. On 85 minutes, Leone applied the finish for the away side after a perfect break. Before the whistle, Ntube got one back with a header. The sides will meet again next week in Turin and Inter will have to show what they did in the first 45 minutes in order to overcome the deficit with a place in the Under-17 league’s Final Four at stake.
