This newsitem has been supplied by PSV.nl
Italy U-21 have booked a place for the 12008 Olympic Games in Beijing after all. They beat Portugal U-21, with PSV defender Manuel da Costa, on penalties in a lacklustre performance, after Thursday night’s play-off game had ended stalemate after 120 minutes, including extra time.
Da Costa taken off
Manuel da Costa was not involved in extra time and the penalty shoot-out, as he had been taken off in the closing stages, after he had picked up an injury. Italy U-21 had by then already been reduced to ten men after Giuseppe Rossi was dismissed for a second yellow card, but the Portuguese could not profit from their numerical advantage. As neither team succeeded in breaking the deadlock in extra time either, a penalty shoot-out was needed to decide the poor tie. Graziano Pellè set the tone by converting his spot kick in fabulous Panenka fashion and all his team mates proved to be clinical finishers as well. Portugal U-21 missed two penalties in the shoot-out. The Portuguese had their Olympic dream shattered, while Italy salvaged something from their disappointing European Championship tournament, claiming a place in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
