Italy score stoppage-time win over Poland

REUTERS

 

CHORZOW, POLAND

Italy snatched a dramatic and deserved 1-0 win away to Poland in their Nations League match on Sunday thanks to a stoppage-time header from Cristiano Biraghi, his first international goal.

Biraghi gave Italy their first win in the competition and also their first in a competitive match since Roberto Mancini took over as coach in May.

It also meant that Poland, who has one point from three games after also losing at home to Portugal on Thursday, will finish bottom of Group Three in League A and will be relegated to the second-tier League B.

It was a richly-deserved win for Italy who produced one of their best performances in the last few years and twice hit the crossbar in the first half.

Italy have four points from three games while leaders Portugal, who remain firm favourites to win the group and qualify for the semi-finals at the end of the season, have six from two.

“We dominated the match, we should have scored earlier and it would have been very unfair if the game had finished 0-0,” said Mancini who is rebuilding the side after their failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup.

“It’s a great win, we can still improve a lot but it needs patience — these lads need time.”

Poland made six changes to the team which lost to Portugal while Italy’s line-up was unchanged from Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at home to Ukraine. Italy immediately took the initiative and midfielder Jorginho curled a shot against the bar in the first minute.

Lorenzo Insigne dinked the ball on to the roof of the net from Alessandro Florenzi’s pass and the Napoli forward also struck the woodwork on the half-hour after Federico Chiesa sent him clear.

Jorginho then forced Wojciech Szczesny to make a difficult save as Italy continued to dominate the game and create chances.

Other results:

 Lithuania 1 4 Montenergro

 Israel 2 0 Albania