Italy took on Armenia tonight looking to finish a successful World Cup qualifying campaign in style, while the visitors still harboured slim hopes of finishing second in Group B.
Armenia were positive early on and took the lead through Yura Movsisyan, but Italy levelled before the break thanks to a precise header from Alessandro Florenzi.
The visitors exploited defensive frailties to take the lead in the second half through Henrikh Mkhitaryan but there was time for Italy to equalise soon after, with Mario Balotelli coming off the bench to restore parity.
Look back at a challenging night in Naples for Cesare Prandelli's men with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Hello Calcio fans. Thanks for joining Sports Mole tonight for live coverage of Italy's final World Cup qualifier of the current campaign, which sees Group B's surprise package Armenia visit Naples with plenty still to play for.
Cesare Prandelli's side have been efficient and largely untroubled in an impressive qualifying campaign, with their place in next summer's World Cup confirmed last month with two games to spare. The Azzurri are unbeaten in nine Group B matches against the likes of Denmark and Bulgaria, which includes a 100% home record.
The Azzurri shuffled their pack last time round with their trip to Brazil booked, fielding a string of squad players against Denmark last Friday. Italy fought back to earn a 2-2 draw in Copenhagen, with Alberto Aquilani's last-gasp equaliser salvaging a draw. It will be interesting to see if Prandelli rotates again tonight in Naples.
Armenia meanwhile still travel to Naples with a very slim chance of securing the second place in Group B and a playoff place. Vardan Minasyan's side have earned plaudits with some impressive results in only the fourth World Cup qualifying campaign, which included a four-goal rout away to Denmark earlier this year.
The visitors currently sit fifth in Group B ahead of tonight's final qualifiers, but are just a point being Bulgaria in second. An unlikely chain of results could see them climb above Denmark and Czech Republic, but all three sides must drop points, including the Danes at home to Malta.
Primarily Armenia's focus must be on matching Italy before mathematicians can be sent into a frenzy. The visitors play a counter-attacking brand of football which is easy on the eye, with Borussia Dortmund playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan relied upon for creative impetus.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! We have just received word on the starting XIs from Naples, with Andrea Pirlo and Lorenzo Insigne returning for Italy. A full look at both teams will follow in just a few moments.
ITALY: Marchetti; Abate, Astori, Bonucci, Pasqual; Pirlo; Florenzi, Aquilani, Montolivo, Insigne; Osvaldo
ARMENIA: Berezovski; Arzumanyan, Hayrapetyan, Mkoyan, Haroyan; Mkrtchyan, Ozbiliz, Ghazaryan, Mkhitaryan; Yedigaryan, Movsisyan
Once again Prandelli has rung the changes this evening, but is still able to name a very strong side who are favourites to win their fifth consecutive game. With Mario Balotelli still struggling with injury Pablo Osvaldo continues in attack, with both Lorenzo Insigne and Alessandro Florenzi given a chance to impress in support.
There is also a rare start for Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti in Azzurri Blue, with Gianluigi Buffon rested after breaking the caps record against Denmark. Ignazio Abate and Andrea Pirlo also feature from the outset, while Alberto Aquilani comes in for Alessandro Diamanti after scoring a late equaliser against the Danes.
There is also a rare start for Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti in Azzurri Blue, with Gianluigi Buffon rested after breaking the caps record against Denmark. Ignazio Abate and Andrea Pirlo also feature from the outset, while Alberto Aquilani comes in for Alessandro Diamanti after scoring a late equaliser against the Danes.
PREDICTION! With the Azzurri national anthem in full swing there is just time for me to predict a fairly open, exciting encounter at the San Paolo. Osvaldo has looked a man rediscovering top form and I expect him to continue in that vain tonight, netting in a 3-1 win for Italy.
Pre-match pleasantries are just about finished, with Pirlo and Berezovskiy swapping pendants. Can a much-changed Italy maintain their superb form in World Cup qualifying and finish in style, or will Armenia produce a shock result to keep faint playoff hopes alive? We will find out shortly.
Armenia get this clash underway in a changed all-white strip, with Mkhitaryan soon looking to probe as his attempted through ball is knocked clear by Astori.
Insigne's first involvement of the night is greeted to huge cheers at his home ground, with Napoli fans clearly attending in numbers. The little playmaker is just unable to chase down a long ball, with Florenzi needing medical attention after landing awkwardly after winning a header.
The visitors clearly have pace on the counter as Movsisyan nearly demonstrates, denied only by a last-ditch challenge from Astori as the ball deflects just beyond Marchetti, who was rooted to the spot. A little too casual at the back there for Italy, as Marchetti comes out to confidently claim the following corner kick.
GOAL! Italy 0-1 Armenia (Movsisyan)
What a start for Armenia as the hosts are caught cold and made to pay a heavy price for more slack play at the back. Aquilani was the player who gave away possession with a sloppy pass inside, which Movsisyan seized upon quickly. The Spartak Moscow striker had plenty to do after evading Astori's lunge and finished quite brilliantly, rifling into the far corner to break the deadlock!
Back come Italy as they look to recover from a shaky start, with Florenzi just held off by Hayrapetyan as he looked to control inside the penalty area. The Azzurri's defence is experimental tonight and how it has showed early on, with Movsisyan winning a corner kick.
The first signs of Italy threatening in attack as Osvaldo controls neatly after meeting Montolivo's neat through ball. The Southampton striker's first touch was superb but his shot proves rather forgettable, with too much curl sending the ball well beyond the far post.
Once again Italy are caught short at the back, with Mkrtchyan given plenty of space to strike from range. His effort flies well forward but leads to an inquest for the Azzurri, with Montolivo arguing with Astori after intercepting a through ball soon after.
Aquilani smashes over from 25 yards after neat work from Insigne out wide, with Armenia happy to drop deep and let the midfielder try his luck from distance. Pirlo then leads another Azzurri charge but Pasqual's low cross in search of Osvaldo is easily cut out.
OFF THE POST! Pirlo is attempting to dictate play now for Italy, helping drive the hosts forward thanks to an overlap from Abate. His next pass to Insigne sees the youngster shoot quickly from 20 yards, with his effort hitting the post before bouncing off Berezovskiy and back out. Osvaldo reacts to meet the rebound but can only force a superb save from the Armenia goalkeeper, who dives to smother a scuffed poke towards goal.
GOAL! Italy 1-1 Armenia (Florenzi)
The Azzurri are level thanks to Florenzi, who nodded home Insigne's cross from close range after Osvaldo robbed possession high up the pitch. A relief for Prandelli, who watched his side start so poorly. Florenzi deserves credit for gambling to meet that cross in the six-yard box, making the kind of driving run inside that has been so prominent for Roma this season.
Just as Italy looked to relax after restoring parity they nearly concede a second as Armenia break with pace and purpose through Mkhitaryan. The playmaker eases past Bonucci and into the penalty area, with his cross-come-shot going just wide of Marchetti's far post. Still plenty of goals in his one, quite possibly at both ends.
Montolivo is furious after being flagged offside as he raced through to meet Osvaldo's clever flick, with Pasqual then just failing to keep in Aquilani's switch in the next passage of play. Italy should definitely look to exploit that flank with positive runs from the full-backs.
Another moment of encouragement for Armenia as Özbiliz tests Marchetti with a low strike from 20 yards, but Italy are quick to counter and break at the other end. A wonderful piece of skill from Insigne gives the forward space just inside the penalty area, beating his marker with a clever dragback. With time to pick his spot the youngster aims for the far corner, but just puts too much whip on an effort that finishes well wide of the target.
Insigne is starting to enjoy himself out there and is once again given an alarming amount of space out wide, volleying wide Abate's scooped cross towards the far post. Armenia will surely be punished if they keep failing to close down the diminutive forward.
Bonucci blocks Mkhitaryan's latest raid into the final third, sending his strike clear of danger with a strong interception. The Dortmund playmaker has shown impressive close control early on and continues to be focal point for Armenia.
More signs of rare defensive frailty for Italy as Marchetti is forced to rush off his line by a poor backpass from Abate, smashing clear under pressure from Movsisyan.
A single minute of added time sees Italy go long with an aerial ball for Osvaldo, but as a clearance falls to Insigne out wide the referee decides to signal the end of a pulsating first half in Naples.
HALF-TIME Italy 1-1 Armenia
A thoroughly enjoyable first half at the Stadio San Paolo, with Armenia more than playing their part in a game full of attacking the intent. The visitors took the lead early on but were unable to maintain that advantage, with Florenzi's smart header levelling the scores at the interval.
Armenia's opening goal is a moment Prandelli will be desperate to forget, with Astori and Aquilani both culpable with poor positional play from deep. The hosts have a new-look defence out tonight and that lack of continuity has showed at times.
There is a lot to like about the way Armenia play, with the emphasis on using swift passing play to create openings. Mkhitaryan is the basis for that approach, but Spartak Moscow striker Movsisyan deserves credit for an emphatic finish.
Italy have also carried a threat going forward, with Insigne in particular impressing in his home town. The little Napoli forward created the equaliser for Florenzi, chipping an inviting cross to the Roma youngster, who nodded home from close range.
BENCH WATCH! With a proud 100% home record to defend expect Italy boss Prandelli to make changes if the scores remain level. Mario Balotelli, Giuseppe Rossi and Alesso Cerci are all on the bench this evening, with Rossi in particular likely to feature after returning to form with Fiorentina in recent weeks.
Both sides are back out at the San Paolo, with Osvaldo and Aquilani getting the second period underway. Both sides have resisted the temptation to make changes at the interval.
Osvaldo is rather harshly flagged for offside as he attempts to meet a long ball over the top. Armenia take the free kick quickly and look to advance through Mkhitaryan, who sees a through ball intercepted by Montolivo.
Mkhitaryan is down and needs treatment after being blocked off by a strong arm from Pirlo. After treatment the playmaker returns and is quickly involved again, smashing well over from distance.
Osvaldo shows superb close control to beat his marker out wide, cutting inside only to see his cutback smashed clear by Haroyan. The Azzurri are noticeably pressing higher up the pitch, as Osvaldo has strike deflected clear after the forward controlled Pirlo's angled chop.
SUBSTITUTION: That action proves to be Osvaldo's last involvement of the evening, with Balotelli coming on to lead the line. The AC Milan forward's first involvement is to retreat and help defend a corner kick, with Marchetti comfortably saving Mkoyan's flick header at the far post.
YELLOW CARD! Haroyan is the first play to be booked this evening after leading with his elbow in an aerial challenge, with Pirlo sending the resulting free kick over from 30 yards.
Balotelli and Insigne combine twice in quick succession, with both men getting low shots on target that are comfortably held by Berezovskiy. Much more like it from the Azzurri, who are controlling possession with authority in the second half.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Both sides make a change, with Italy swapping the goalscorer Florenzi for Antonio Candreva. Aremnia have also decided to introduce fresh legs, with Airapetian given a chance to impress in place of Hayrapetyan.
Insigne and Balotelli have shown a good understanding since being partnered in attack, with the Napoli youngster scuffing his shot into the ground after a neat exchange.
GOAL! Italy 1-2 Aremnia (Mkhitaryan)
Quite incredibly Armenia are back ahead at the San Paolo through Mkhitaryan, but not in the manner you may have expected from the Dortmund playmaker. Mkhitaryan found space inside the six-yard box to flick towards goal, with Marchettin caught coming off his line as the ball bounced off the crossbar and over the line.
SUBSTITUTION: Italy respond to that change by throwing on another striker, with Aquilani sacrificed for Giuseppe Rossi. Still plenty of time for the Azzurri to respond, but Prandelli must be worried by the defensive frailty shown tonight.
GOAL! Italy 2-2 Armenia (Balotelli)
A rapid response from the Azzurri as a smart finish from Balotelli levels the match for a second time. The forward was given time and space to shoot by a deft ball over the top from Pirlo, sweeping into the corner with an assured strike.
Armenia send on Sarkisov as we head towards the closing stages, with Balotelli's free kick turned behind as Italy suddenly look the more likely to snatch all three points.
Haroyan runs in-behind form a free kick as a static Italy defence looks for the offside flag, but with the goal at his mercy can only head well wide on the turn. What an opportunity for Armenia to take the lead for the third time!
Balotelli picks up the ball from 25 yards and ignores Rossi further forward, turning inside before firing well over the crossbar. The Milan forward looks determined to win this match almost single-handed late on, with Insigne winning a corner kick soon after following an intelligent dart out wide.
Just as Italy look to be building momentum they are forced to concede another corner kick, with Montolivo back to clear at the far post. The Azzurri have looked suspect from set pieces all night but this time escape without punishment, as Mkrtchyan smashes over on the follow-up.
Rossi drops deep ans receives the ball around 25 yards from goal, firing well over the crossbar with a rushed effort in the first of three added minutes.
CHANCE! A wonderful solo effort from Balotelli has come within inches of producing a last-gasp winner. The forward had no support but used strength and pace to drive beyond three defenders. From a tight angle his strike looked destined for the far corner, but just drifted wide to keep Armenia level in stoppage time.
FULL-TIME Italy 2-2 Armenia
In the end Armenia were just about worth a point in an enjoyable end to their qualifying campaign, twice profiting from poor Italian defending to share the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
The draw is enough to ensure that Italy finish a successful qualifying campaign unbeaten after 10 matches, justifying their status as a side that will be very difficult to look past in Brazil next summer.
Well that just about does it for Sports Mole's coverage from Naples, but be sure to stick with the site all night to find out who has secured their place in next summer's South American showpiece. Goodnight!
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
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