Italy have failed to put in a dominant performance yet again, but they look like they're coasting into Euro 2016 after picking up all three points from a 1-0 win over Malta.
Malta vs. Italy, Euro 2016 qualifying: Final score 0-1, Azzurri hang on to early lead
Claudio Villa
From the start, Italy were easily on top of the heavy underdogs and almost scored in spectacular fashion just two minutes in. Ciro Immobile hit a brilliant individual effort with a 180-degree turn and volley in the second minute, but shot just wide.
Malta nearly scored 15 minutes in off a bad clearance by Giorgio Chiellini, but failed to capitalize and were made to pay for it quickly. Debutant Graziano Pelle hit the crossbar for Italy with a booming header in the 18th minute, then found the match’s only goal five minutes later. Malta goalkeeper Andrew Hogg made a good initial save on a header by Leonardo Bonucci, but his defense failed to clear, and Pelle poked in the goal from close range.
The game effectively ended in the 27th minute, when Malta captain Michael Mifsud was shown a straight red card for a hard tackle on Alessandro Florenzi. The home fans found the call to be harsh, but Mifsud did go into the challenge with his studs up.
As Antonio Conte's teams are known to do, Italy were content to keep possession and limit Malta's opportunities to attack once they had the lead and a one-man advantage. Almost nothing happened between Mifsud's sending off and the 73rd minute, when Malta finally created a chance. Andre Schembri looked to be running clear on goal after a defensive mix-up, but Bonucci tripped him up before he could get a shot off. The referee saw it as denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity and showed Bonucci a straight red card.
The Italians were actually more attacking from then on, though they never added to their lead. The closest they came was in the 91st minute, when substitute Sebastian Giovinco struck the post.
Malta: Hogg, Camilleri, Agius, Briffa, Z. Muscat, Failla (Bezzina 90’), Fenech, R. Muscat, Mintoff (Baldacchino 72’), Mifsud (red 27’), Schembri (Cohen 85’)
Goals: None
Italy: Buffon, Pasqual, Chiellini, Bonucci (red 73’), Pasqual, Candreva, Verratti, Marchisio, Florenzi (Aquilani 59’), Immobile (Giovinco 65’), Pelle (Ogbonna 76’)
Goals: Pelle (24’)
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