Alhadjo Cisse scores 95th-minute winner as Italy Under-21s beat Armenia 1-0 to set up Poland decider

Armenia holds firm in Yerevan

Italy Under-21s travelled to Yerevan on Thursday evening for their penultimate Group E qualifying fixture ahead of the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Albania and Serbia. Armenia entered the match at the bottom of the standings with zero points and a goal record of 4 scored and 23 conceded across their campaign. Despite the gulf in the standings, the home team frustrated Italy throughout the first half with disciplined defending. Italy head coach Silvio Baldini deployed an attacking trident centered on forward Francesco Camarda, but the young striker found himself isolated against the compact Armenian backline. The visitors created opportunities but lacked finishing precision, striking the crossbar twice through attempts from Alhadjo Cisse and Pietro Comuzzo before heading into the interval at 0-0.

Missed penalty and stoppage-time winner

Italy intensified their pressure after the restart, leading Baldini to execute four tactical substitutions in rapid succession across the second half to inject energy into the squad. The breakthrough opportunity arrived in the 77th minute when Italy was awarded a penalty kick following sustained pressure in the penalty area. Forward Luca Koleosho stepped up to take the spot kick, but Armenian goalkeeper Ghazaryan saved the shot to keep the score level. As anxiety mounted and the contest entered stoppage time, AC Milan forward Alhadjo Cisse secured the win in the 95th minute. Cisse gathered the ball in the final seconds and sent a shot into the top corner of the net, giving Italy a 1-0 victory with the final action of the match.

Post-match reaction from Silvio Baldini

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Rai after the final whistle, Baldini acknowledged the tension of the match while emphasizing that his team deserved the three points after controlling play. He noted that failing to collect a victory after hitting the woodwork twice and failing to convert from the penalty spot would have been an unfair outcome for the Italian squad.

It has happened to me to lose dominated matches, but I remained calm because when you reach a certain age, the emotion is no longer the fear of losing but the hope that the boys can achieve what they deserve. We scored in the final minute, but it counts the same.

Baldini immediately shifted focus to the upcoming schedule, reminding his players that the final group match will determine direct qualification.

Group E showdown against Poland

The win in Yerevan leaves Italy in position to challenge Poland for top spot in Group E during their final qualifying match in Pescara on Monday, 5 October at 18:15. Poland has produced a perfect qualifying run so far, winning all nine of their group fixtures, which includes a previous victory over Italy. Poland needs only a draw or a single-goal defeat to secure first place and claim direct entry to the 2027 tournament co-hosted by Serbia and Albania. The Poles would only lose automatic qualification if they suffer a defeat of two or more goals against Italy while Greece defeats Northern Ireland in Group F with an aggregate swing of at least five goals in the runner-up standings. Even in that scenario, Poland would retain a route to the tournament through the qualification playoffs.