Calafiori and Esposito strike as Italy beat Turkey 3-1

Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring before Aral Simsir equalised, but goals from substitutes Riccardo Calafiori and Francesco Pio Esposito secured another victory for the Azzurri over their struggling opponents.

Match highlight

Turkey began with considerable attacking intent. Ozan Kabak forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into an excellent save from distance, while the Italy goalkeeper also had to remain alert to deny Salih Ozcan and Yunus Akgun.

The hosts thought they had taken the lead against the run of play when Scamacca finished past Ugurcan Cakir, only for an offside flag to cut short his celebrations.

His next effort did count, however. Meeting Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s delivery, the striker powered a volley into the top corner for his second international goal.

Turkey responded positively after the interval. Simsir briefly threatened after taking the ball past Donnarumma, but he could not produce a dangerous shot before the goalkeeper recovered his position.

Cakir also made an important intervention at the other end, stretching out a leg to keep out Issa Doumbia’s close-range effort.

With the contest finely balanced, Turkey drew level shortly after the hour mark. Zeki Celik crossed for Eren Elmali, whose header across goal left Simsir with a straightforward finish at the far post to register his first international goal.

Italy needed only four minutes to restore their advantage.

Nicolo Barella floated a free-kick towards the far post, where Calafiori rose above Elmali — who had conceded the set-piece — and headed beyond Cakir’s reach.

It was also a first international goal for the Arsenal defender, whose introduction proved decisive.

Turkey pushed forward in search of another equaliser and again tested Donnarumma, who kept out a powerful Ozcan strike.

Their attacking commitment left space for Italy on the counter, and another substitute eventually settled the contest. Esposito finished from Alessandro Romano’s pass to put the result beyond the visitors.

Italy have now won five of their past seven home matches, losing the other two, and strengthened their position in the race for the knockout stage.

Turkey remain without a point with two group fixtures left. A fourth defeat leaves them facing the prospect of finishing bottom and dropping back into League B, while Italy’s record in the fixture now stands at 12 wins and four draws.