[U21] Draw leaves Italy playing catch-up

Bosnia-Herzegovina secured their first Group 3 point in the most unlikely of places as they held Italy to a 1-1 draw in Mantova which leaves the five-time winners well adrift of pacesetters Wales.

The Azzurrini started well and took the lead after eight minutes when Guido Marilungo gave a lovely pass from midfielder Andrea Poli the finish it deserved.

It looked like the start of a routine victory for the hosts but the Bosnians had not read the script and equalised with 30 minutes played when Josip Coric curled in from just inside the penalty area.

Pierluigi Casiraghi's side pressed for the majority of the second half while only forcing visiting goalkeeper Ibrahim Sehic into action on a couple of occasions, the first to keep out an Angelo Ogbonna header after the centre-back met Mario Balotelli's corner.

Sehic also denied Balotelli near the end, by which time Federico Macheda and Alberto Paloschi were playing alongside the Inter forward.

Italy are nine points behind Wales, 2-0 victors against the Balkan nation on Saturday, with two games in hand. They next meet the side immediately above them, Hungary, in Gyor on 13 November followed by a trip to Luxembourg four days later in must-win games.

Group 3 Results
Saturday 10 October
Wales 2-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Tuesday 13 October
Italy 1-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina

Group 3 Standings
[1] WAL - PLD: 05 - PTS: 13
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[2] HUN - PLD: 03 - PTS: 06
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[3] ITA - PLD: 03 - PTS: 04
[4] LUX - PLD: 06 - PTS: 04
[5] BOS - PLD: 03 - PTS: 01

Next Group 3 Fixtures
Friday 13 November
Hungary v Italy
Tuesday 17 November
Luxembourg v Italy
Wednesday 18 November
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Wales

Source: UEFA