Italy extended their unbeaten record against Turkey to 16 matches after securing a 3-1 victory over the Turks in Bologna in the UEFA Nations League.
The Azzurri have now won 12 of those meetings, while the other four have ended in draws.Turkey started the match brightly and created several early chances. Ozan Kabak tested Gianluigi Donnarumma from distance before the Italy goalkeeper was also called upon to keep out efforts from Salih Ozcan and Yunus Akgun.
Italy thought they had opened the scoring when Gianluca Scamacca finished after being played through on goal, but the striker was ruled offside. Scamacca was given another opportunity and made no mistake. He met Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s cross with a powerful volley that struck the underside of the crossbar before finding the net, giving Italy the lead and earning him only his second international goal.
Turkey continued to threaten after the break. Aral Simsir came close after rounding Donnarumma, but he could not produce a clean finish before the goalkeeper recovered. At the other end, Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir denied Issa Doumbia from close range to keep his side in the contest.
Turkey eventually levelled after the hour mark. Celik delivered a cross towards the back post, where Elmali flicked the ball into the path of Simsir, who finished. The goal marked his first international goal. However, Italy responded almost immediately.
Lead Restored
Four minutes later, substitute Riccardo Calafiori restored the hosts’ advantage and scored his first goal for the national team. Nicolo Barella’s free-kick found Calafiori at the back post, and the Arsenal defender rose above Elmali to head beyond Cakir. Turkey pushed for another equaliser and nearly found one when Ozcan unleashed a powerful effort that Donnarumma had to parry.
Italy remained dangerous on the counter and eventually sealed the victory through another substitute, Francesco Pio Esposito.
Esposito side-footed Alessandro Romano’s cross into the net to make it 3-1 and put the result beyond Turkey.
The victory moved Italy up to second in Group A1 and gave them their fifth win in seven home matches. Turkey, meanwhile, remain without a point in the group with two matches left and are facing relegation to League B.
