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Florence –
Italy failed to win in the opening match of group A1 2020/21 UEFA Nations League. Against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Gli Azzurri drew 1-1.
At Artemio Franchi, Saturday (5/9/2020), the visitors went ahead with a goal from Edin Dzeko in the 57th minute. But Italy managed to escape defeat after Stefano Sensi managed to equalize in the 67th minute.
This result made Italy unable to top the classification of group A1. The reason is that, at the same time, the Netherlands managed to beat Poland 1-0.
The course of the match
Appearing at home, Gli Azzurri tried to stand out first. Lorenzo Insigne had the first chance in the 7th minute, but his left-footed shot remained wide.
Five minutes later, it was Federico Chiesa’s turn to threaten the Bosnian goal, after receiving a pass from Insigne. But he was in a hurry and his shot came from the right side of the rival goal.
The Italian pressure did not stop there. In the 18th minute, Insigne’s free kick flew narrowly over the Bosnian crossbar.
Not wanting to continue to be pressured, Bosnia struck back. Edin Visca had a chance in the 27th minute after receiving a cross from Armin Hodzic, but his shot went too far.
Italy has not been silent. In the 34th minute, Andrea Belotti shot on goal, but Bosnian goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic could still be blocked. The first half ended in a goalless draw.
In the second half, the tension of the game increased. Insigne fired a long-range shot in the 52nd minute, but Sehic was able to secure it. A minute later, Bosnia came back on the attack, with a Hodzic shot that nearly broke Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arc if he didn’t hit the post.
Italy responded again. Insigne had another chance in the 55th minute, but this time his header hit the post. Unfortunately for Italy, they even conceded two minutes later.
Through a corner kick, a wild ball was headed by Toni Sunjic and received by Edin Dzeko. Calmly, the AS Roma forward completed the opportunity to score a goal. Bosnia winning 1-0.
 Dzeko (left) when breaking into the goal of Italy. Photo: AP / Massimo Paolone |
Left at home, Italy did not give up. In the 67th minute they managed to equalize.
On the left wing, observer Insigne threw a horizontal pass to Stefano Sensi in the penalty area. The Inter Milan midfielder then launched a horizontal kick that hit Sunjic’s leg and finally broke Sehic’s misstep. The score is the same, 1-1.
 Sensi (right) managed to equalize. Photo: Getty Images / Claudio Villa |
In a tie situation, both teams pose threats. Bosnia is almost back in front in the 70th minute if Donnarumma fails to secure Amer Gojak’s header.
A minute later, it was the turn of Alessandro Florenzi who almost burst into the Bosnian goal, but Sehic was countered.
Bosnia kept pressing in the final minutes. Visca fired a long shot in the 83rd minute, but it was saved by Donnarumma. In injury time, a counterattack through Muhamed Besic failed to finish off a goal after his shot was deflected slightly to the left.
Until the long whistle, the 1-1 score remained unchanged.
Player lineup
Italy: Donnarumma; Florenzi, Bonucci, Acerbi, Biraghi; Pellegrini (Kean 86 ‘), Sensi, Barella; Church (Zaniolo 71 ‘), Belotti (Building 73’), Insigne.
Bosnia Herzegovina: Sehic; Cipetic, Sunjic, Sanicanin, Kolasinac (Civic 84 ‘); Cimirot, Hadziahmetovic, Gojak; Visca (Milosevic 86 ‘), Dzeko, Hodzic (Besic 77’).
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