| 0 - 2 |
| ||||||
| Andrea Pirlo(pen) 11 | ||||||||
| Giampaolo Pazzini 73 |
Italy went two points clear at the top of Group 8 thanks to a 2-0 win at Montenegro.
The Azzurri were in front after just 11 minutes when Andrea Pirlo scored from the penalty spot after Montenegro defender Radoslav Batak had stopped a cross with his hand.
Italy nearly doubled the lead shortly after the re-start, but Vincenzo Iaquinta missed from a close range after a pass from substitute Simone Pepe.
The hosts spurned a glorious chance to equalise as striker Radomir Đalović failed to beat Gianluigi Buffon when one-on-one, with the Azzurri No. 1 producing a spectacular one-handed reflex save on a close-range shot.
Giampaolo Pazzini, playing his first game for the world champions, sealed the victory in the 73rd minute as he headed home a cross from Pepe.
The win leaves Italy two points ahead of Republic of Ireland, who travel to Bari in midweek on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Bulgaria.
Lineups:
Montenegro: Poleksić; Basa, Pavićević, Batak; Vukčević (Zverotić 90), Drinčić, Peković (Vujović 80), Bošković, Božović; Jovetić, Đalović (Bečiraj 71)
Italy: Buffon; Zambrotta, Cannavaro (Brighi 82), Chellini, Grosso; De Rossi, Pirlo, Palombo, Quagliarella, Iaquinta (Pazzini 55), Di Natale (Pepe 9)
Montenegro v Italy goal & highlights
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The Azzurri were in front after just 11 minutes when Andrea Pirlo scored from the penalty spot after Montenegro defender Radoslav Batak had stopped a cross with his hand.
Italy nearly doubled the lead shortly after the re-start, but Vincenzo Iaquinta missed from a close range after a pass from substitute Simone Pepe.
The hosts spurned a glorious chance to equalise as striker Radomir Đalović failed to beat Gianluigi Buffon when one-on-one, with the Azzurri No. 1 producing a spectacular one-handed reflex save on a close-range shot.
Giampaolo Pazzini, playing his first game for the world champions, sealed the victory in the 73rd minute as he headed home a cross from Pepe.
The win leaves Italy two points ahead of Republic of Ireland, who travel to Bari in midweek on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Bulgaria.
Lineups:
Montenegro: Poleksić; Basa, Pavićević, Batak; Vukčević (Zverotić 90), Drinčić, Peković (Vujović 80), Bošković, Božović; Jovetić, Đalović (Bečiraj 71)
Italy: Buffon; Zambrotta, Cannavaro (Brighi 82), Chellini, Grosso; De Rossi, Pirlo, Palombo, Quagliarella, Iaquinta (Pazzini 55), Di Natale (Pepe 9)
Montenegro v Italy goal & highlights
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