Poland 0-1 Italy
Italy grabbed a well deserved UEFA Nations League win tonight in Poland, but it took at 93rd-minute winner courtesy of Cristiano Biraghi to clinch the points.
Roberto Mancini’s team dominated from the very first minute to the last and must have wondered how they had played with such attacking intent without scoring, until the last-gasp winner. And that all means Italy is still in the hunt to win Group A3 but Poland is relegated.
It was the second defeat in a week for Poland after the hosts narrowly lost to Portugal here at the Stadion Slaski.
According to UEFA Nation League 2018 odds only Portugal, in Group A3, has a realistic chance of winning the tournament but now, thanks to Biraghi’s first international goal, Italy may have something to say about that.
Highlights of the game
Italy started like a house on fire and when Lorenzo Insigne found Jorginho, the Chelsea midfielder unleashed a shot which crashed the crossbar in the very first minute. Then Lorenzo took a pass from Cagliari’s Nicolo Barella and fired his shot inches over.
Napoli’s attacking midfielder Piotr Zielinski has good knowledge of Serie A and many of the Italy team, but despite his best efforts, Italy dominated the first half as the busy Jorginho tested Wojciech Szczesny in the Poland goal. And the Juventus stopper was called into action again to deny Federico Bernardeschi after he was put in by Marco Verratti.
Jerzy Brzeczek made two changes at halftime, bringing on Kamil Grosicki and Jakub Blaszczykowski but Roberto Mancini’s team continued to probe. The Polish defence held a good line though catching first Federico Chiesa and then Bernardeschi offside. And then, on the hour, Poland had its second attempt on goal, when Zielinski passed to Grosicki on the right side of the box, the Hull City winger let fly but Gianluigi Donnarumma saved comfortably.
Azzurri skipper Giorgio Chiellini put Chiesa in with a headed pass, but his shot flew high and wide as the visitors continued their search for the goal their dominance deserved.
Insigne was the next Italy striker to be caught offside and then, on 71 minutes, Chiesa crossed for Bernardeschi but his header glanced wide of the left post when he should have hit the target. The lively Grosicki had at least given Poland an outlet and he tried his luck from distance, but too close to Donnarumma to trouble the young Milan keeper.
While Poland had improved in the second half, much of the hosts’ hopes were pinned on set pieces and long throws, but they got little change from Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci at the heart of the Italian defence.
Mancini made a change with ten minutes left bringing on Udinese striker Kevin Lasagna to replace the frustrated Bernardeschi and to provide a focal point for Italy’s attacks. But, when his chance came, he joined the ever-growing list of the Azzurri forwards to be caught offside.
As the game entered injury time Kamil Glik fired a snapshot straight at Donarumma. The 19-year-old keeper hadn’t had a lot to do but he’d been tidy all night.
And then finally Italy’s reward came. Lasagna got his head to a corner and flicked on at the near post for Cristiano Biraghi to slide the ball home.
Group A3 is still alive!
Key Statistics
The SBOBET odds had Italy slight favourites at 2.37 and that turned out to be good value as Mancini’s men put Poland to the sword.
Italy was totally dominant in the first half and, with 68 per cent possession and a shot count of ten to one, the Azzurri must have been wondering what they had to do to go ahead, they had tested Szczesny four times but he had coped with relative ease, aside from watching Jorginho’s effort clatter his crossbar.
Poland improved a little in the second half but with a shot count of six to 18, they can have few complaints that Italy finally banged the door down.
It’s Roberto Mancini’s first competitive win as Italy boss and the Azzurri’s first away win in six attempts.
But Poland has the unenviable distinction of being the first team to be relegated in the UEFA Nations League.
What’s next?
Next up Poland has a friendly at home to the Czech Republic in November before Jerzy Brzeczek’s takes his team to Portugal and you can be sure the UEFA Nation League 2018 updates will keep on coming.
Portugal still heads Group A3 and had a chance to test some squad players in a 1-3 friendly win over Scotland on Sunday. And before hosting Poland the table toppers visit Italy in a game which will decide Group A3.
Don’t miss it!
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