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Italy fought back from 3-1 down to snatch a 3-3 draw with Denmark as their European U-21 Championship defence kicked off.
The Azzurrini began the defence of their European Championship title against Denmark in Portugal. Alberto Aquilani pulled out of the tournament just a day earlier with a knee injury, while Fiorentina's Giampaolo Pazzini partnered Raffaele Palladino of Livorno upfront.
Italy had a lively start and Ellegaard performed a fine save on Pazzini's header, although he was just offside on Giorgio Chiellini's cross from the left. Soon after, both Foggia and Sammarco's shots from distance were charged down.
Gentile's men took a deserved lead after 15 minutes of play. A Cesare Bovo free kick was spread wide for Foggia, whose cross found Alessandro Potenza at the back post to volley home. It was the Real Majorca man's first goal at Under-21 level.
Denmark fought back and Bendtnder turned a header wide, but this left space for the counter-attack and Palladino drilled inches past the far post.
The Danes equalised soon after, as a corner kick was not cleared effectively and goalkeeper Gianluca Curci was particularly indecisive, so the ball came out to Rasmus Wurtz for a fierce drive from nine yards.
Bovo flung himself at another Wurtz effort from a similar set-piece scenario, while Bergvold's effort was comfortably held. A Kamper cross on the counter-attack reached Bendtner and his shot flashed across the face of goal from a tight angle.
Another horrible Curci error from a set-piece handed Denmark the lead moments later. The Roma shot-stopper was left stranded and, even after Chiellini's goalline clearance, Thomas Kahlenberg was able to tap into an empty net from six yards.
The wind was now in the Scandinavian sails and Kahlenberg swung a shot just wide of the far post, followed by a Bergvold angled drive that was also agonisingly close to the upright.
Marco Donadel was booked for a very late tackle on Bendtner and, from the resulting free kick from 20 metres, Leon Andreasen's strike pierced the defensive wall, as Atalanta midfielder Defendi left his position and left a gap.
Italy had penalty appeals before the break for a handling offence, as Pazzini's shot was clearly charged down by an outstretched arm, but the referee waved play on.
Curci blocked another Kahlenberg effort and Foggia volleyed over the bar after the restart. Andreasen was booked for hauling back Defendi as he ran clear on goal, but the Atalanta man was replaced by Torino's Alessandro Rosina immediately afterwards.
The free kick almost let Italy back into the game, as Bovo's set-piece was cleared off the line and Rosina's follow-up from seven yards thumped the upright.
Tension spilled out on 57 minutes when a backpass was intercepted by Palladino, but his shot struck a defender's arm and Pazzini clattered into the goalkeeper as both went for the loose ball. The Fiorentina forward was yellow carded, as he ended up kicking Ellegard.
The Azzurrini pulled one back on the hour mark, as Bovo's free kick found a totally unmarked Palladino for the Livorno talent's glancing header from six yards.
Soon after, Bovo's shot from distance was almost spilled by the goalkeeper, then Pazzini just failed to get on the end of two through balls from Palladino and Rosina with the Danish defence left stranded. Reggina striker Rolando Bianchi came on for Pazzini to spice up the attack.
Bianchi sprung the offside trap, but the tension of the match got to him and the substitute blasted well wide. A deflected Foggia attempt rose over the bar and Rosina's low drive was also touched out for a corner kick.
Ellegaard parried a Palladino strike at the near post, as the Azzurrini poured forward in search of the equaliser. Denmark almost made it 4-2 on the counter-attack, but Curci stood his ground to charge down Kahlenberg's point-blank finish.
Foggia had a great chance to draw level through a spectacular volley with the inside of his foot on Rosina's cross, but it was wide of the target.
The 3-3 finally came as the clock ticked into stoppages. Palladino flicked on the ball into the path of Bianchi, who ran into the area and unleashed an unstoppable strike. It was a particularly important goal for the Reggina man, who has missed most of this season with a serious knee injury.
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