Willy Gnonto of Leeds United scored twice and assisted on another for Italy’s Under-21 team, which defeated San Marino 7-0 yesterday.
From a selfish Leeds point of view, the main hope for fans is that the key players representing their countries return from the international break unscathed.
There’s a lot to keep track of, including Willy Gnonto, who is playing for Italy’s under-21 team after previously playing for the senior side earlier in the season.
A home match against San Marino’s under-21s was always going to be easy for the Azzurri, and it was, as they won 7-0.
Gnonto demonstrated his quality with two goals before halftime, the first making it 2-0 after a goalmouth scramble at the back post, and the second making it three after being played into the box 12 yards out and lashing the ball into the top corner.
Gnonto then won a penalty, which would have given him a hat trick, but instead passed the ball to Sebastiano Esposito, who converted.
Is Gnonto hurt?
Gnonto was forced off with an injury 10 minutes after winning the penalty, clutching his hamstring out wide, having to come off before his side went on to make it 7-0 before full-time:
It’s a shame he’s sustained this injury, and we can only hope he’ll be in good shape when our football season resumes.
That would almost certainly be the end of his time with the international team this month, and Daniel Farke will be sweating now.
We have enough backup to not rely entirely on him, but this is the last thing Gnonto needed as he was regaining his peak form.
