US EditionFIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier: Italy Leaves It Late to Earn 2-0 Win at Moldova
Italy scored two late goals to secure a 2-0 win over Moldova, maintaining momentum ahead of their playoff spot in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
- In Chisinau, Italy left it late to beat Moldova 2-0 in their penultimate World Cup qualifier with Gianluca Mancini scoring two minutes before full time and Francesco Pio Esposito adding a stoppage-time header.
- Having already clinched a playoff place, Italy approached the game under less pressure as Norway's earlier 4-1 win over Estonia left hopes of topping Group I all but mathematically over.
- Key chances fell to Gianluca Scamacca, Giacomo Raspadori and Bryan Cristante but the breakthrough did not come, while Andrea Cambiaso and Pio Esposito tested Andriy Kozhukhar as Moldova threatened on a swift Mihail Stefan counter.
- The win confirms Italy's place in the 16-team UEFA playoff, with 4 World Cup spots on offer via that route.
- Italy travel to face Norway with slim arithmetic hope of finishing top, as a win on Sunday could level points but they trail by 17-goal differential.
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17 Articles
Italy boss Gattuso hits back at jeerers after Moldova win
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso hit back at fans who gave his side flak and criticised the World Cup qualification format, with the national team set for the playoffs for next year's tournament in North America, after they beat Moldova 2-0 away on Thursday to ... (ANSA)
FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier: Italy leaves it late to earn 2-0 win at Moldova
Late goals from Gianluca Mancini and Francesco Pio Esposito helped Italy to a 2-0 win away against Moldova on Thursday, keeping alive its faint hopes of automatic qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with its sixth consecutive victory.
In Chisinau the blues struggle to break through the Moldovan wall and unlock only in the last minutes with Mancini and Pio Esposito. The fifth consecutive victory of Gattuso management arrives, but for the qualification directed to the World Championship you will have to pass from the playoffs in March.For eighty-eight minutes the Zimbru...
Promoted and rejected of the Chisinau race
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