Italy achieves a late victory

The Italian national team achieved a late victory over its host Moldova 2-0, on Thursday, in the eighth round of Group Nine in the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in America, Mexico and Canada.

The Italian national team raised its score to 18 in second place, three points behind the leading Norwegian national team, postponing the decision on the qualification ticket until the decisive confrontation between them next Sunday in Milan in the final round.As for the Moldova national team, its score froze at one point in fifth and last place behind Estonia.

The Italian team waited until the 88th minute to score the lead goal through Gianluca Mancini, before Francesco Pio Esposito added the second goal in the second minute of stoppage time.

The Azzurri started the match with an attacking trio including Mattia Zacani, Gianluca Scamacca and Ricardo Ursolini, in an attempt to score early, but the Moldovan team relied on defense and limiting the danger of the visitors, while goalkeeper Andre Kozhukhar blocked several chances.

Coach Gattuso was unable to find...

The Italian national team raised its score to 18 in second place, three points behind the leading Norwegian national team, postponing the decision on the qualification ticket until the decisive confrontation between them next Sunday in Milan in the final round.As for the Moldova national team, its score froze at one point in fifth and last place behind Estonia.

The Italian team waited until the 88th minute to score the lead goal through Gianluca Mancini, before Francesco Pio Esposito added the second goal in the second minute of stoppage time.

The Azzurri started the match with an attacking trio including Mattia Zacani, Gianluca Scamacca and Ricardo Ursolini, in an attempt to score early, but the Moldovan team relied on defense and limiting the danger of the visitors, while goalkeeper Andre Kozhukhar blocked several chances.

In the first half, coach Gattuso was unable to find the required solutions to penetrate the Moldovan defense, and the first half ended in a goalless draw.