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Italy national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Sep 3, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Malta national football team

1-0

Pelle (69')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Italy leave it late to beat Malta

Graziano Pelle's goal is the difference as Italy beat Malta 1-0.

Graziano Pelle's goal 20 minutes from time was the difference as Italy beat Malta 1-0 in Florence to move level with Croatia at the top of Euro 2016 qualification Group H.

Italy started quietly, and didn't carve out a clear chance until Pelle headed Andrea Pirlo's corner inches over the top of goal on 20 minutes.

However, it was Alfred Effiong that almost got his name on the scoresheet first when he charged forward and curled an effort narrowly wide of goal.

The hosts finished the first half the stronger side, though, and could have been ahead when Eder's mazy run ended with a shot that flew just wide of goal.

Pirlo's clever free kick teed up Matteo Darmian shortly after the restart, and the Manchester United defender's cross was almost bundled home by the Sampdoria forward.

Manolo Gabbiadini drilled a 25-yard strike against the underside of the bar as Antonio Conte's side stepped up the pressure, and Pelle fired into the side-netting from Marco Verratti's pass.

Pelle then got the goal his side needed when he turned home substitute Antonio Candreva's cross from close range.

The result leaves Italy with 15 points from their seven games in Group H.

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Mario Balotelli, Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio of Italy look on during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match against Costa Rica on June 20, 2014
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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