Success for Czechs and Italy

UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying round Group 13 hosts the Czech Republic and Italy defeated Armenia and Cyprus to move into the Elite round.

Armenia pipped
Armenia had hopes of an upset against Italy on Matchday 1 in Cesky Dub when Ramzik Hovhannisyan gave them the lead but on 64 minutes Mattia Destro equalised and Davide Santon's penalty seven minutes from time gave Luca Gotti's side a 2-1 advantage before Hovhannisyan was sent off in added time. The Czech Republic were two up at half-time against Cyprus through Petr Kolařík and Václav Kadlec and within four minutes of the restart Jan Bořil and Jakub Štourač's penalty had doubled the lead. Kadlec scored again, Štourač also added another and substitute Václav Vašíček claimed two goals in an 8-0 win.

Decisive results
Italy then defeated Cyrpus 7-1 in a game where Michelangelo Albertazzi, Davide Petrucci and Marco D'Alessandro struck in the first 17 minutes. Daniele Ragatzu, D'Alessandro and Massimiliano La Rocca extended the lead after the break and although Cyprus then pulled one back Ragatzu had the last word. The Czech Republic then clinched progress for themselves and the Azzurrini with a 5-1 victory. Kadlec, Štourač and Kolařík made it 3-0 at the break and although Zhora Stepanyan reduced arrears, Kadlec scored again and substitute Farmačka converted a penalty.

Perfect Italy
Italy maintained their perfect record in the final round of matches on Sunday with a 2-1 win against the Czech Republic. Albertazzi gave Italy the lead midway through the first half but they were pegged back just before the interval by Milan Smrž. The decisive strike came courtesy of Jacopo Sala after 55 minutes. Armenia ended the round without a point after they were defeated 3-0 by Cyprus in the day's other game.