Italy returns from Estonia with three more points: scoring Kean (later injured), Retegui and Esposito
Italy defeats Estonia by a score of 3-1 in the match played Saturday night in Tallinn by the Azzurri, who thus add another three points to their standings by remaining -6 from Norway and moving back to +3 ahead of Israel, with both contenders having played an extra game. Tuesday’s match against the Israelis in Udine could prove decisive in at least archiving playoff talk.
The initial spurt of the Azzurri, forced to improve their goal difference to try to play it all in the direct clash against Norway, is peremptory and after four minutes the goal of the lead already arrives: to sign it is Moise Kean, with a beautiful right-footed conclusion that beats Hein. Kean himself, however, has to stop a few minutes later due to an ankle injury: in his place is Pio Esposito.
The first chance for the double came on the half-hour mark: Kuusk knocked down Retegui in the box, the former Genoa and Atalanta man himself from the penalty spot, but the opposing goalkeeper guessed the trajectory of the shot and made the Azzurri’s attempt from the penalty spot in vain. Retegui himself, however, made up for it on 38′, receiving the ball from Orsolini and beating the opponent’s extreme defender with a precise diagonal shot.
The first half ends 2-0, Italy cannot and should not be satisfied but seems to fail to sting anymore: in at 62′ Cambiaso and Spinazzola enter for Orsolini and Raspadori, but it is the first sub, Esposito, who signs the tris: it is 74′ in fact, when the Inter forward kicks the ball crossed low by Spinazzola, thus making it 3-0.
Those hoping that spaces will open up further, however, must reconsider and, indeed, must also reckon with Gigio Donnarumma’s mistake, who two minutes after the Azzurri goal did not hold back a ball in the small area, giving Sappinen the opportunity to score 1-3 with the goal literally unguarded. A minute later Gattuso tried fresh forces, inserting Frattesi and Cristante for Barella and Retegui, but the result did not change: Italy won, but compared to Norway lost another three goals in calculating the overall goal difference.
