Italy are back on the qualification path for the 2015 European Under-21 Championship after a narrow 2-0 win in Cyprus on Monday afternoon.
The Azzurrini, now bossed by Gigi Di Biagio, started their campaign with some difficulty on Thursday when they lost 3-1 at home to Belgium.
Italy are back on the qualification path for the 2015 European Under-21 Championship after a narrow 2-0 win in Cyprus on Monday afternoon.
The Azzurrini, now bossed by Gigi Di Biagio, started their campaign with some difficulty on Thursday when they lost 3-1 at home to Belgium.
A victory today was therefore a necessity, but the rather defensive home side proved difficult to break down for the Italians.
A cagey first half ended as it started, even if the Azzurrini wasted four good opportunities to break the deadlock through Cristian Battocchio twice, Samuele Longo and Andrea Belotti.
Italy did finally open the scoring in the 66th minute thanks to substitute Francesco Fedato after some good work from Davide Zappacosta and Paolo Frascatore.
Cyprus threatened around 10 minutes later, but goalkeeper Francesco Bardi was aware before Longo wasted a one-on-one in the closing stages.
Riccardo Improta, who replaced Lorenzo Crisetig, secured the result with a goal in injury time.
Cyprus 0-2 Italy
Goal: Fedato 66, Improta 93
Cyprus: Mytidis; Moulazimis (Marios 66), Costantinou, Kyriakou A, Froxylias (Kyprou 62); Efthimiou, Theodorou, Djamas; Charalampous Marko, Roushias, Thalassitis (Englezou 51)
Italy: Bardi; Zappacosta, Di Lorenzo, Bianchetti, Frascatore; Baselli, Fossati (Fedato 46), Crisetig (Improta 59); Battocchio, Belotti (Molina 75), Longo