Italy U15 crushes Turkmenistan 5-1 in opening match

Italy's Under 15 side opened their World Cup qualifying Group L campaign in convincing fashion at the Bakan venue. The Azzurrini recovered from an early deficit to defeat Turkmenistan 5-1 at the Hovsan Complex, demonstrating swift composure after falling behind in the opening minute. Captain Alfredo Criscito, a full-back at Genoa, equalized at the 2nd minute and doubled his tally just sixty seconds later with a clinical finish in the box. The defender—son of a coaching staff member at Juventus youth—remained a constant threat throughout the opening half as Eric Vian, a Juventus defender, extended the lead to 3-1 at the 13th minute.

The second period saw Italy extend their dominance further. Parma's Manuel Ferraro added the fourth goal at the 31st minute with a low drive from distance, while Roma playmaker Rayan Reguig completed the rout at the 34th minute. The emphatic scoreline reflected the control exercised by Battisti's squad, which significantly restricted the opposition's attacking opportunities across the forty-minute match. The coach praised his players' immediate response to the early setback and their ability to create numerous chances despite the challenges posed by the reduced playing surface (68 × 47 metres).

With this result, Italy shares the top spot with Hong Kong and Qatar on three points. The Azzurrini will face Qatar and the Cook Islands in subsequent group-stage matches.