Italy defeated Azerbaijan 2-1 at the Stadio Renzo Barbera on Friday night in Group H of Euro 2016 qualifiers.
Giorgio Chiellini gave the hosts the lead before the Juventus man put the ball into the back of his own net to make the score 1-1. However with six minutes remaining the defender rose to head home and clinch the 2-1 victory for the home side.
The Azzurri could’ve taken the lead five minutes in when Ciro Immobile darted down the right-hand side before playing the ball into Claudio Marchisio, but the latter’s finish went over the bar.
Conte’s men came close to finding an opener minutes later, this time Immobile flicked the ball onto Alessandro Florenzi but the Roma man failed to wrap his foot around it.
Azerbaijani goalkeeper Kamran Agayev was soon called into action when Leonardo Bonucci’s strike took a deflection off Simone Zaza along the way, but the Gabala man managed to pull off a save to keep the scoreline goalless.
Bonucci was once again at the centre of trouble when he latched onto an Andrea Pirlo corner, however his diving header was saved by Agayev.
Italy had a penalty appeal turned down on the half-hour mark, as Badavi Guseynov appeared to have handled the ball inside the area; however, the referee waved play on.
Inter captain Andrea Ranocchia came close to giving Conte’s men the lead but his powerful header went over the bar.
Five minutes from half time, Azerbaijan’s Rufat Dadashov found himself acres of space only to send his shot over the bar.
The Azzurri finally found the breakthrough with only two minutes before the end of the first half when Chiellini guided his header past Agayev.
One minute into the second half Zaza’s attempted overhead kick went inches wide of the post; however, the Sassuolo striker was flagged offside by the linesman.
The Milli registered their first shot on goal near the hour mark when Dimitrij Nazarov unleashed a shot from distance which was saved by Gianluigi Buffon.
Zaza had a great chance to put the Azzurri 2-0 up when he latched onto a cross from the right-hand side, only to send his shot wide of the post.
Berti Vogts’ men had their equaliser fifteen minutes from time when Buffon failed to deal with a corner and the ball went across the face of goal before striking an on rushing Chiellini and going into the back of the goal for an own goal.
Conte’s men regained the lead nine minutes from time when Chiellini latched onto Sebastian Giovinco’s cross to make it 2-1, thus making up for his error six minutes prior.
Giovinco could’ve had his name on the scoresheet minutes later, but his curled shot slammed against the woodwork.
With this win Italy take their tally to six points from two games while Azerbaijan remain on 0 points.
