IRELAND 0 ITALY 1
Ireland men’s side's dreams of reaching a first ever semi-final place at the World University Games were cruelly dashed in Gwangju South Korea when a goal four minutes before the break proved enough to hand Italy a quarter-final victory today.
Italy will go through to the last four tie against Japan on Saturday while hosts South Korea will take on Brazil in the other semi final and Ireland will now play France in the play-off for places 5-8 on Saturday.
Leonardo Morosini did the damage in the 41 minute with a well struck effort that left Matt Connor flat footed in the Ireland goal for a lead that the Italians held on to in typical fashion for the remainder of the game.
Star man Dezi Jacopo who recently joined Serie A side Napoli tormented full back Noel Haverty on the left flank as the Italians threatened to go ahead.
Connor had done well to keep out a Tommaso Biasci pile driver and at the other end Dylan Mernagh went close following an Alan McGreal corner.
The second half was frustrating for Danny Crowley’s side as the solid defending by their opponents kept their attempts to get back on terms to a minimum.
Substitute Dean Broaders looked like equalising but his well struck effort went just past the post.
The Irish will now take on the current holders France who were surprisingly defeated 1-0 by Japan in their quarter final tie as they bid to equal the fifth place finish at the last games in Kazan two years ago.
IRELAND: M Connor (Waterford IT); N Haverty (IT Carlow), D Mernagh (UL), S Last (IT Carlow), R McEnteer (Dundalk IT); R Gaul (DCU); E Molloy (IT Carlow), L Kelly (DCU), J Bonner (IT Carlow), A McGreal (UCD); A O’Sullivan (DCU).
Subs: C McDonald (Dundalk IT) for Molloy h-t, Peter Higgins (UL) for Haverty 65 mins, D McGuinness (IT Carlow) for McGreal 70 mins, D Broaders (IT Carlow) for Bonner 82 mins, B Nolan (UL), C O’Keeffe (IT Carlow), J Corrigan (Maynooth Univ), G Coughlan (UL), S Houghton (IT Carlow).
World University Games (Gwangju, South Korea) Men’s Quarter Final: Ireland 0 Italy 1 (L Morosini 41), South Korea 3 Uruguay 0, Japan 1 France 0, South Africa 1 Brazil 2.
Semi Finals: Japan v Italy, Brazil v South Korea.