Tommaso Baldanzi scored one and assisted the other for Francesco Pio Esposito, as Italy swept Norway aside 2-0 in the European Under-21 Championship qualifier.
It means Italy climb into second place on seven points from three games, while the Republic of Ireland have won all three of their matches.
The Azzurrini were without Marco Nasti, who was sent home after punching Atalanta full-back Matteo Ruggeri and breaking his nose, which also saw Ruggeri play with a protective mask.
Matteo Prati forced a tricky save with his scorcher from distance, but Italy took the lead when Edoardo Bove’s high press forced Norway into a defensive error, Tommaso Baldanzi rode one tackle, dribbled around another defender and placed an angled drive into the far bottom corner.
Francesco Pio Esposito almost made it 2-0 when he came sliding in at the back post, just unable to meet the Baldanzi ball flashed across the face of goal.
Moments later, Cher N’Dour found himself in an ideal position to score, only to scuff it well wide off the outside of the boot, then Esposito had another strike deflected off target.
It took barely 22 seconds of the second half to add a second goal, as Esposito flicked on a long ball with his head to Baldanzi, who from the right rolled across for Esposito to tap in from 10 yards.
Empoli star Baldanzi limped off after a knock to the ankle and Gaetano Oristanio’s free kick tested the Norwegian goalkeeper.
Sebastian Desplanches had to make his first real save on 65 minutes, getting down to fingertip the Isak Hansen-Aaroen solo effort round the far post.
It could’ve been 3-0 in stoppages, but Fabio Miretti combined with Oristanio, the Cagliari striker seeing his scorcher palmed away.
Italy 2-0 Norway
Baldanzi 25 (I), Esposito 46 (I)
Italy U21: Desplanches; Zanotti (Kayode 87), Coppola, Pirola, Ruggeri; Bove (Fabbian 72), Prati, N’Dour; Baldanzi (Oristanio 57), Casadei (Miretti 72); Pio Esposito (Calafiori 87)
Norway U21: Sjoeng; Lovik (Riisnaes 77), Opsahl, Hjelde; Zaferis, Gulliksen (Oppegard 57), Arnstad, Moller-Wolfe; Schjelderup (Nordas 86), Hansen-Aaroen, Musisha