Italy takes on Northern Ireland in a UEFA Pathway A semi-final from Bergamo’s New Balance Arena, home of Atalanta. The winner of Pathway A will compete in Group B at this summer’s World Cup and play Canada in Toronto on June 12 in the opening match.
Follow along live for the latest from Europe this afternoon.
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Elsewhere: Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina headed to ET
The wily veteran Edin Dzeko’s 86th-minute goal cancelled out Dan James’s opener and Wales and Bosnia-Herzegovina are headed for extra time in Cardiff.
FULL TIME - Italy 2, Northern Ireland 0
A deserved 2-0 win for the Azzurri on the back of a goal and assist from Sandro Tonali. Italy now moves on to play the winner of Wales and Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday for a date with Canada.
90′+2 - Late chance for Northern Ireland
The visitors have one final chance to get on the board, but Price’s shot goes well over the bar and doesn’t trouble Donnarumma.
90′ - Three minutes of added time
Job almost done for the Azzurri.
88′ - Kean’s night is over
The goal scorer comes off as Giacomo Raspadori makes a cameo in his home stadium.
83′ - More changes for both teams
Josh Magennis and Jamie Reid have come on in place of Spencer and Devlin for the visitors, while the Azzurri introduce Niccolo Pisilli and Marco Palestra for the excellent Tonali and Politano.
80′ - GOAL - Italy 2, Northern Ireland 0 - Moise Kean
Well, don’t I look stupid? A Tonali ball over the top is corralled by Kean, who dances around Ruairi McConville and beats Charles to make it 2-0. That’s probably game.
78′ - It might not be Kean’s night
The Viola man tries the spectacular from close range with a bicycle kick from a Mancini cross, but he goes wide.
72′ - 2-0 would be a dagger
Italy presses for another as none of Northern Ireland’s runs forward have turned into scoring chances. A Dimarco corner is met by Esposito, but it’s cleared from the line by Trai Hume. You get the sense another goal would be curtains for the visitors.
68′ - O’Neill turns to his bench
Michael O’Neill makes his first roll of the dice as QPR’s Paul Smyth comes on for Terry Devlin.
66′ - Esposito gets involved
One of Esposito’s first acts on the pitch is a fine ball to spring Kean whose low drive is turned away by a diving Charles.
64′ - Gattuso makes first changes
Retegui and Bastoni’s evenings are over as they make way for Juventus’s Federico Gatti and Inter’s Pio Esposito.
60′ - Northern Ireland opens up
The visitors are chasing a goal now and they’re opening up. They must be wary of the Azzurri on the counter or a comeback certainly won’t be in the cards.
56′ GOAL - Italy 1, Northern Ireland 0 - Sandro Tonali
Minutes after Kean forced a fine save out of Charles, he couldn’t do anything about Sandro Tonali. A cross was cleared to the edge of the area where the Newcastle man pounded home a low drive.
53′ - Massive chance for Italy
A back pass by Galbraith is gobbled up by Retegui, who has a clear lane on goal. His first touch is heavy and that allows Spencer to close him down. Retegui clatters into Charles without even taking a shot.
50′ - Second half begins much the same way
Italy has begun the half enjoying the lion’s share of possession again, but once again, there’s no final ball. Riccardo Calafiori takes a pop from distance and it’s easily gathered up by Charles.
46′ - Back underway in Bergamo
We’re back underway and something’s gotta give.
HALFTIME - Italy 0, Northern Ireland 0
Not the best half of football you’ve ever seen, but Michael O’Neill will be pleased with his side’s ability to frustrate the hosts. Meanwhile, Rino Gattuso needs more from his Azzurri.
45′ - One minute of stoppage
Donley’s challenge on Mancini is a rough one and Bastoni takes exception. There’s some pushing and shoving, but the ref gets things under control in a hurry.
41′ - Bastoni again comes close
Nearly a carbon copy from earlier, Bastoni meets a Tonali corner with a strong header, but this time it clears the bar.
37′ - Azzurri keep knocking
Italy keeps trying to chip away at what’s been a resolute defence from Northern Ireland. For how much longer is this sustainable for the visitors?
34′ - Close again from Italy
A Tonali corner is met with aplomb by Bastoni, but it’s deflected out for another corner. Had it not been, it was certainly headed for the net.
32′ - A little argy bargy
Price doesn’t take kindly to a shove in the back from Barella while going up for a header and slaps the ball at the Inter man. Nothing comes of it.
Elsewhere: Schick pulls one back for the Czech Republic
A Patrik Schick penalty in the 27th has halved Ireland’s lead to 2-1.
26′ - Looking for Kean
Italy continues to try to work the ball over the top for Moise Kean, but it’s worked less than it hasn’t.
Elsewhere: Dreamland for Ireland
A Troy Parrott goal in the 19th followed by an own goal by goalkeeper Mateo Kovar four minutes later has Ireland leading the Czech Republic 2-0.
20′ - Galbraith chooses poorly
In what was maybe Northern Ireland’s first moment of looking dangerous, Ethan Galbraith chose to go it alone, rather than find Isaac Price, as Italy was stretched out, with his effort deflected away harmlessly.
19′ - Azzurri held at bay
While Northern Ireland hasn’t offered much going forward, they will be happy with the way they’ve managed to limit Italy’s chances.
14′ - Northern Ireland’s first corner
Justin Devenny’s corner crosses the face of Gigio Donnarumma’s goal, but there was nobody on the other end.
Goals elsewhere
Sweden leads Ukraine 1-0 on a sixth-minute goal from Arsenal’s Victor Gyokeres, while Mallorca’s Martin Valjent’s sixth-minute marker has Slovakia up 1-0 on Kosovo.
10′ - Another Azzurri corner
Dimarco takes it short, gets it back and his cross ends in a free kick for Northern Ireland.
7′ - Close for Italy!
DiMarco’s shot is turned away by Charles, but right to Mateo Retegui and it’s deflected to Tonali. The Newcastle midfielder’s shot, surely earmarked for the goal, is deflected away by Jamie Donley.
6′ - Another corner for the hosts
Pierce Charles makes a mess of a Federico DiMarco shot and it results in a corner
4′ - Kean wants noise
Fiorentina’s Moise Kean wants noise as Italy takes the match’s first corner. Sandro Tonali’s header goes wide of the far post.
Kick-off!
We are underway from Bergamo
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Your starting XIs
Italy: Donnarumma; Mancini, Calafiori, Bastoni; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Kean, Retegui
Northern Ireland: Pierce Charles; Hume, McNair, McConville; Devlin, Shea Charles, Galbraith, Devenny, Spencer; Price; Donley
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