Italy survived a scare, and claimed top spot in Group A, with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Belarus.
Italy take spot while Belarus crash out
Italy survived a scare, and claimed top spot in Group A, with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Belarus.
A shock appeared to be on the cards when Sergey Kisliak grabbed an opener shortly before the interval, but Robert Acquafresca levelled matters from the spot almost immediately and tapped home a winner 15 minutes from time.
The Azzurrini dominated proceedings for long periods and were good value for all three points.
Ignazio Albate, filling in for the suspended Mario Balotelli, almost had the Italians in front inside the opening minutes, but saw a crisply struck effort fly narrowly wide.
Only a miraculous, but slightly dubious, piece of defending from Mikhail Afanasiev then prevented Domenico Criscito from heading home a Sebastian Giovinco corner, as he cleared off the line with his shoulder.
Abate then blazed over again before Belarus were forced to hack another goal-bound effort to safety from underneath their own crossbar.
Controlled
Then, as the game ticked into first half stoppage time, Kisliak stunned the Olympia Stadion as he guided a controlled half-volley past a helpless Andrea Consigli.
It did not take long for Italy to haul themselves level, though, as Afanasiev handled in the box and Acquafresca coolly converted the resulting penalty.
The Inter Milan striker should have had a second moments after the re-start, but he blazed wide when well placed.
Salvatore Bocchetti rattled the bar as Pierluigi Casiraghi's side upped the tempo, before some heroic defending prevented Giovinco from getting his name on the scoresheet.
Italy were not to be denied, though, and Acquafresca was left with the simplest of tasks as he slid into an empty net on 75 minutes following a selfless square pass from Antonio Candreva.
Belarus crash out with just a point to show for their endeavours, while Italy will now face Germany in the first of the semi-final showdowns.
