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Italy rallies past Türkiye 3-1 in Nations League clash

06 October 2026 03:34 (UTC +04:00)

Italy came from behind to beat Türkiye 3-1 on Monday in the fourth match of UEFA Nations League A Group 1, with a second-half double from substitute-turned-starter Riccardo Calafiori and a late strike from Francesco Pio Esposito putting the match away after Türkiye had briefly leveled the score, APA reports citing Türkiye Today.

Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring for Italy in the 26th minute at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium, before Aral Simsir equalized for Türkiye early in the second half. Italy regained the lead three minutes later through Calafiori and sealed the win with Esposito's goal in the 87th minute. The match, played before a crowd of 30,040, kicked off at 9:45 p.m. local time.

Scamacca strike breaks deadlock before Turkish response

Türkiye created the first meaningful chances of the match, with Ozan Kabak, Salih Ozcan and Yunus Akgun all forcing saves from Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inside the opening 17 minutes.

Italy grew into the game as the half progressed, and Scamacca put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute with a right-footed shot from the center of the box. The first half ended 1-0.

Türkiye responded after the break. Eren Elmali set up Simsir, who converted from close range in the 61st minute for his first senior international goal, drawing the match level at 1-1.

Calafiori and Esposito restore Italy's lead

Italy answered almost immediately. Three minutes after Türkiye's equalizer, Calafiori, who had come on as a substitute less than 10 minutes earlier, headed in a Nicolo Barella cross from a set piece to make it 2-1 in the 64th minute.

Esposito, who had also entered as a substitute, added a third goal in the 87th minute, finishing from close range off an assist from Alessandro Romano to put the result beyond doubt.

The match featured several cautions, including yellow cards for Türkiye's Zeki Celik and Abdulkerim Bardakci and for Italy's Matteo Ruggeri and Scamacca.

Italy made wholesale changes as the second half wore on, introducing Calafiori, Esposito, Michael Kayode, Sandro Tonali and Davide Frattesi, the latter replacing an injured Antonio Vergara.