Azerbaijan 1-3 Italy: Azzurri discover prolific goalscoring to earn Euro 2016 spot

Date: 10th October 2015 at 8:04pm
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italy azerbaijanItaly clinched their qualification to Euro 2016 after surpassing a resilient Azerbaijan side in Baku on Saturday.

Goals from Eder, Stephan El Shaarawy and Matteo Darmian were enough to book Italy’s place for Euro 2016 despite Azerbaijan levelling the game at 1-1 thanks to Dimitrij Nazarov. The results also takes the Azzurri’s unbeaten in run qualifiers to 49 straight matches.

Rahid Amirquliyev looked bright with a pair of strikes on Gianluigi Buffon inside the first 10 minutes to test the veteran on his 151st cap.

Eder had other ideas for the Italians, though, as he immediately answered the pressure with his second national team goal in the 11th minute. Antonio Candreva laid a ball back to Marco Verratti who produced a fantastic one-timed lob to the Sampdoria forward who flicked a nutmeg shot straight under Kamran Agayev.

Graziano Pelle nearly added a second goal at the quarter hour mark. Again it was Eder causing danger as he chested Candreva’s ball inside the box to tee up the Southampton striker’s close range side volley, but Agayev parried away the danger.

A defensive mixup between Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci led to Azerbaijans unexpected equalizer by Dimitrij Nazarov at the half hour mark. Chiellini’s failed attempt at a clearance fell to his Juventus teammate who thought to make a return headed pass back but instead gifted Nazarov his one-timed strike at the top of the 18 to beat a rooted Buffon.

Stephan El Shaarawy looked determined to shift the match as the 22-year-old saw his pair of volleyed shots fly over the bar with 10 minutes until the break. Italy went back in front just before half time. Once again it was Eder at the centre of things as he orchestrated a through ball to the surging Antonio Candreva past the Milli back line, and the Lazio winger easily assisted El Shaarawy’s second Azzurri goal and first in three years.

A third Italian goal arrived after half time. Full-back Matteo Darmian showing great anticipation to intercept a ball played up the middle of the pitch by Dan Mori and the 25-year-old slammed a dipped shot straight past the keeper for his first ever goal in an Azzurri shirt.

The decisive victory sees Antonio Conte’s men top the Group with 21 points ahead of second placed Norway on 19.

 

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