RAVENNA - The Inter Under-17s are Champions of Italy for the eighth time. At the Stadio Benelli in Ravenna, the Nerazzurri beat reigning champions Roma thanks to a magnificent Sebastiano Esposito hat-trick. For the Elite Academy, it was the sixth Scudetto final of the season and the 55th title overall. After winning in 2016-17, Andrea Zanchetta claimed the title for the second time with Inter.
Inter flew out of the traps. First, Esposito played a gorgeous ball to Oristanio but he was unable to control. Then, the no.9 took advantage of a mistake at the back to go clean through but he fired wide. In the sixth minute, the Nerazzurri had another great chance when Pirola forced a superb save from the Roma goalkeeper Boer. With time going on, the Nerazzurri were clearly on top and kept creating chances. The deadlock was eventually broken in the 44th minute. Bonfanti fired on goal with his left, Boer saved but the rebound fell to Esposito who put Inter ahead.
The second half began with a huge chance for the Nerazzurri. Cester was played in well by Oristanio but he fired over from a great position. Roma’s first real chance came in the 50th minute with Zalewski setting up Ciervo but Stankovic responded with an excellent save. Piccareta’s side came into the game more and Ciervo hit the bar on the hour. At the other end, Squizzato almost made it 0-2 in the 63rd minute. In the 69th and 71st minutes, Esposito took over to kill the game off. First, he scored his second with a right-foot strike before completing his hat-trick with a chipped penalty after he himself was fouled.
In the 80th minute, Ciervo got one back with a shot that went in after taking a deflection off Pirola. Three minutes from the end, Roma had the chance of getting back into it but Cancellieri couldn’t beat Stankovic from the spot. After six minutes of added time, the final whistle was blow and the NERAZZURRI ARE CHAMPIONS OF ITALY!
ROMA 1-3 INTER
Goals: 44', 69' and 71' Esposito, 80’ Ciervo
ROMA: 1 Boer (90' Trovato 12), 2 Tomassini (81’ Moteba 15), 3 Suffer, 4 Tripi, 5 Buttaro, 6 Astrologo (46’ Ciucci 14), 7 Cancellieri, 8 Bove, 9 Agostinelli (46’ Ciervo 18), 10 Milanese (72’ Tueto Fotso 20), 11 Zalewski
Substitutes: 12 Trovato, 13 Morichelli, 15 Moteba, 16 Aglietti, 17 Carlucci, 19 Travaglini
Coach: Fabrizio Piccareta
INTER: 1 Stankovic; 2 Moretti, 5 Cortinovis (83’ Alcides 13), 6 Pirola, 3 Dimarco; 7 Cester (83’ Casadei 18), 4 Squizzato, 8 Mirarchi; 10 Oristanio (67’ Simic 17); 9 Esposito, 11 Bonfanti (55’ Gnonto 19)
Substitutes: 12 Tononi, 14 Sottini, 15 Wieser, 16 Sangalli, 19 Gnonto, 20 Sakho
Coach: Andrea Zanchetta
Bookings: Cancellieri, Squizzato, Buttaro
Stoppage time: 1' - 6'
Referee: Giaccaglia (Jesi)
Assistants: Croce and Ferraioli
