09/28/26 04:07:00
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09/28 16:06 CDT Transformed Italy records dominant win in Nations League, Olise
gives France late win
Transformed Italy records dominant win in Nations League, Olise gives France
late win
By DANIELLA MATAR
AP Sports Writer
Roberto Mancini appears to have transformed Italy almost immediately.
Italy stormed to a dominant 4-1 win at Turkey in the Nations League on Monday
with the Azzurri's best performance for a long time, in Mancini's second match
in charge.
It was a far cry from Friday's 2-0 loss at home to Belgium when Italy looked to
still be struggling, six months on from failing to qualify for a third
consecutive World Cup.
Italy will no doubt face a much tougher test in its next match, however, when
it plays France away on Friday.
France also has a new coach in Zinedine Zidane, and he saw his team --- without
the injured Kylian Mbapp --- snatch a 1-0 win at Belgium.
Dream debut for Kayode
Brentford defender Michael Kayode scored one goal and set up another in an
impressive Italy debut for the 22-year-old.
Italy took the lead with less than nine minutes on the clock when Zeki elik
scuffed an attempted clearance on a corner and the ball fell to Alessandro
Bastoni, who swept it into the roof of the net.
It was a sort of redemption for Bastoni, who was sent off in the first half of
Italy's World Cup qualifying playoff against Bosnia and Herzegovina --- which
the Azzurri went on to lose on penalties.
Davide Frattesi doubled Italy's lead in the 22nd minute, tapping in the rebound
after Kayode's shot had been parried by Turkey goalkeeper Altay Bayindir,
following a well-worked team move by Italy.
Kayode got on the scoresheet five minutes later, following a similar move, with
Pio Esposito sending him clear to fire into the bottom right corner.
It was the first time in five years that Italy scored three goals in the
opening half-hour of a competitive match.
Barls Alper Yllmaz caught Italy napping to pull one back for Turkey right at
the start of the second half but Esposito restored the visitors' three-goal
advantage three minutes later, nodding in a rebound after Sandro Tonali's
curled effort had come off the post.
Esposito had been joined in the starting lineup by his older brother
Sebastiano, who was making his debut, marking the first time since 1915 that
two brothers had started a match for Italy.
Late Olise stunner breaks the deadlock
France dominated and hit the woodwork twice but needed a stunning, late goal
from Michael Olise to finally break the deadlock.
France was without Mbapp, who has already returned to Real Madrid, after
limping off with an injury to his left knee moments after scoring a
record-extending 67th goal for his country in Friday's 1-0 victory against
Turkey.
Zidane made nine changes to his starting lineup, including handing debuts to
Jrmy Jacquet, Andy Diouf and Lucas Da Cunha.
Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens made a number of important saves, while Dsir
Dou hit the crossbar in the 12th minute and Da Cunha saw a fierce effort from
25 yards come off the post.
It took something special to break the Belgians down and that happened two
minutes from time, when Olise received the ball inside his own half and
sprinted down the right before cutting in and driving into the bottom left
corner.
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