Esposito Equalizes as Italy and France Draw 1-1 at San Siro at Halftime
Pio Esposito scored Italy's equalizer in the first half against France at San Siro in the Nations League. Michael Olise had put the visitors ahead after a Donnarumma error. A Sassuolo forward later missed an Italian penalty.
Inter striker Pio Esposito scored Italy's equalizer against France at San Siro in Milan on Thursday, November 12, in a Nations League group match. The goal made it 1-1 and came on Italy's first real chance.
France had led after Michael Olise punished a mistake by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Both sides finished the first half level.
How the goals came
Donnarumma tried to play out from the back and misplayed the ball. It went to Olise, who ran past defender Alessandro Bastoni and finished to make it 0-1.
France had started the stronger side. Donnarumma saved with his foot from a PSG attacker one-on-one, and Rabiot's header from Barcola's cross also met a Donnarumma foot save.
Italy replied through Nicolo Cambiaghi. The Bologna winger beat Malo Gusto on the left and drove a hard, low cross into the area. Esposito got ahead of Upamecano, touched it in with the outside of his foot and beat goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Italy had already shown some threat. Early on, Esposito tried a backheel from a Cambiaghi cross that went behind for a corner.
Close calls either side
Donnarumma was tested again when he gave away a chance for France by trying to avoid a corner. Rayan Cherki shot low from the edge of the box, and Donnarumma dived to turn it onto the post.
Later, Barcola cut inside and curled a shot that hit the far post. Italy's defence also survived a Cherki and Barcola move through the middle, with Bastoni and Sebastiano Esposito making key blocks.
Before the break, Pio Esposito was shown a yellow card. He moved Da Cunha illegally, then kicked the ball away in frustration at the referee's decision.
At halftime, San Siro paid tribute to Kimi Antonelli, who was shown on the big screen and applauded by the whole stadium.
Penalty miss in the second half
Later in the match, Cambiaghi surged down the left again and Gusto brought him down. Italy were awarded a penalty. The Sassuolo forward who took it tried to hit it with the outside of his foot, mishit it and missed the target.
Neither side made a change at the start of the second half, and Italy had the first touch after the restart.
Group stakes
The match was the penultimate round of the group stage. Before kickoff, France led the group on 10 points from four games. Italy were second on seven, Belgium third on six and Turkey fourth on zero.
Roberto Mancini named both Esposito brothers in attack. Pio wore the number 9 shirt and Sebastiano the number 7, alongside Cambiaghi. Mancini had cut his squad to 23 for the game, leaving out Alphado Cisse, Mattia Liberali, Honest Ahanor, Matteo Palma, Federico Gatti and Niccolo Pisilli.
Italy's Nicolo Fagioli kept the number 10 shirt for the game.
