Moldova 0-2 Italy: Higher late than by no means in Chisinau

Italy needed to wait till the 88^th minute to push previous Moldova with Gianluca Mancini and Francesco Pio Esposito headers, at the very least retaining strain on Norway to the tip.

The Azzurri knew first place was past attain as a result of Norway’s 100 per cent document and unbelievable objective distinction. Moise Kean and Niccolò Cambiaghi pulled out with accidents, with Nicolò Barella suspended, so Gennaro Gattuso rotated the squad in Chisinau. They beat Moldova 2-0 in June, which was the final Luciano Spalletti match forward of his dismissal. This was the debut for the brand new equipment.

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See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Alessandro Buongiorno performs for Italy in Moldova throughout the 2026 World Cup qualifier (@azzurri)

Giacomo Raspadori pressured a difficult save on the close to submit on the lay-off from his former Sassuolo teammate Gianluca Scamacca, whereas Andrei Cojuhar parried the cheeky Bryan Cristante back-heel flick on a nook from shut vary.

Riccardo Orsolini blasted over, then his free kick was flapped into the trail of Gianluca Mancini, who couldn’t maintain the end down from 12 yards after an ungainly bounce.

Virgiliu Postolachi additionally volleyed over from a really promising place for Moldova when comparatively unmarked, and Raspadori was flagged offside when testing Cojuhar along with his half-volley on the flip.

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Sandro Tonali’s strike was charged down from the sting of the world and Cristante’s scorcher skimmed the far submit, however Orsolini ought to’ve tried a go somewhat than blasting broad from a difficult angle.

Sandro Tonali performs for Italy in Moldova throughout the 2026 World Cup qualifier (@azzurri)

After the restart, Scamacca’s back-heel flick carried on a cross to the again submit, the place Andrea Cambiaso’s end from six yards was bravely charged down by Ioan-Calin Revenco.

Bitca threw himself in the way in which of a Scamacca effort from simply inside the world, and Sandro Tonali stung the goalkeeper’s gloves.

Mateo Retegui and Francesco Pio Esposito got here off the bench, instantly seeing efforts charged down from shut vary, the Inter striker additionally forcing a save along with his scuffed volley from 10 yards on a Matteo Politano cross.

Gianluca Scamacca enjoying for Italy in Moldova throughout a 2026 World Cup qualifier (@azzurri)

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Moments later, Esposito swept broad of the close to submit from Zaccagni’s help with the within of the correct boot.

The mad scramble and sequence of crosses lastly paid off for Italy on the 88^th minute with a diving Gianluca Mancini header on Federico Dimarco’s cross from the left, discovering the close to backside nook from simply inside the world.

It was very almost 2-0 moments later, however Davide Frattesi ballooned over from eight yards on a Retegui pull-back from the by-line.

The second objective did arrive in stoppages, when Matteo Politano’s cross from the correct discovered Pio Esposito for the towering header on the again submit.

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Retegui threatened a 3rd with the final kick of the sport, his looping header cleared with problem.