Italians slay Welsh Dragons
A Filippo Inzaghi hat-trick inside 11 minutes of the second half - his first ever for his country - before a Alessandro Del Piero penalty highlighted the incredible difference in class between the two sides on the night and the win takes Italy a point clear of Wales at the top of Group 9.
The match proved costly for Wales boss Mark Hughes, as Robbie Savage, Craig Bellamy and Mark Delaney all received bookings to leave them suspended for Wednesday's vital match at home to Finland in Cardiff.
A white-hot atmosphere in the Giuseppe Meazza saw both sets of supporters add plenty of spice to a pulsating opening half.
Despite the controversy during the week, Bellamy started up front with John Hartson in the Wales front line but it was the home side that started well with early pressure.
However, it was the visitors who had the best chance as Ryan Giggs took advantage of a poor Christian Panucci header back toward his goalkeeper but the winger's volley was blocked by the onrushing Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Christian Vieri had a couple of headed chances go amiss - the second being a better of the two after Gianluca Zambrotta crossed in from the left-hand side.
Giggs was causing more problems for the Italian backline and after latching on to a long ball forward, he rounded Buffon but got his angles too tight and with defenders recovering, the winger played the ball to Hartson but his shot sailed over the bar.
The Italians finished the half strongly with two big chances to take the lead - the first coming from Vieri's cutback cross which found Inzaghi but his shot was blocked by Gary Speed and cleared for a corner by Robert Page.
Then Del Piero had the best chance of the half as his run and swerving shot saw Wales goalkeeper Paul Jones deflect the ball onto the bar and from the rebound, Simone Perrotta saw his shot deflected off Page and onto the post before Jones pounced on the ball.
Italy's relentless pressure would prove telling after the break and Cristiano Zanetti went close with a shot that hit the post from a right-hand corner.
Zambrotta then caused more problems with a low cross from the left deflected off Mark Delaney and headed goalwards but for Page to clear brilliantly off the goalline.
But the home side finally made the breakthrough as Mauro Camoranesi's cross found Del Piero, who headed towards Vieri but his shot hit the bar with the net gaping but Inzaghi finished the rebound to make it 1-0.
Wales nearly equalised when Hartson nearly caught Buffon out with a chip but it went over the bar and the match was then sealed by the Italians, as Inzaghi converted his second from a right-hand cross past Jones.
The Milan striker then got his hat-trick with a fine turn and shot, after Camoranesi headed the ball to him in the box and he easily went around Page to make it 3-0.
Camoranesi nearly made it four but his header was saved brilliantly by Jones but moments after, Simon Davies was adjudged to have brought down Zambrotta for an Italy penalty, which Del Piero finished with ease to make it 4-0.
The home side strolled to the final whistle, as trouble with the Italian police and Welsh supporters put even more of a damper on a very difficult evening for Welsh football.
Finland maintained their slim hopes of a play-off spot after a 2-1 win in Azerbaijan.
Tarlan Akhmedov's sending off for the home side after 42 minutes hampered their efforts and the Finns broke the deadlock just after the interval.
Auxerre star Teemu Tainio (pictured) struck to put his side ahead and then Mika Nurmela doubled their advantage on 74 minutes.
The home side pulled one back in the final minute through Farrukh Ismaylov, but Finland held on to secure all three points.
Click below for match summaries:
Azerbaijan 1-2 Finland
Italy 4-0 Wales
