[U21] Azzurrini back in business

Italy made amends for Friday's 2-1 defeat against Wales and earned their first points in Group 3 in qualifying for the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship by beating Luxembourg 2-0 in Novara.

The goals came in added time at the end of each half with the Azzurrini taking the lead on the stroke of half-time when Andrea Ranocchia headed a cross by Mattia Mustacchio towards Andrea Poli and the Sampdoria midfielder scored from close range.

Alberto Paloschi had a couple of good opportunities in the first half and he missed another early in the second, shooting wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Luxembourg came close to equalising with 20 minutes remaining when Christophe Scholer fired over after connecting with Naby Twimumu's cross.

Italy responded with a dangerous header by defender Lorenzo Ariaudo and a number of long-range shots by Mario Balotelli, who eventually made it two in added time when he turned in Guido Marilungo's cross from the right on the break.

Pierluigi Casiraghi's men remain second from bottom in Group 3 and are seven points behind Wales, with the leaders having played four games to Italy's two.

Group 3 Results
Tuesday 8 September
Italy 2-0 Luxembourg

Group 3 Standings
[1] WAL - PLD: 04 - PTS: 10
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[2] HUN - PLD: 03 - PTS: 06
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[3] LUX - PLD: 06 - PTS: 04
[4] ITA - PLD: 02 - PTS: 03
[5] BOS - PLD: 01 - PTS: 00

Next Group 3 Fixtures
Saturday 10 October
Wales v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Tuesday 13 October
Italy v Bosnia-Herzegovina

Source: UEFA