Italy continued their winning start to Euro 2016 qualifying by beating Azerbaijan 2-1 at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.
Giorgio Chiellini gave them the lead at the end of the first half when he headed in from Andrea Pirlo's corner.
The visitors then levelled the scores when Chiellini put through his own net.
With eight minutes left to play Chiellini nodded in Sebastian Giovinco's cross to seal the points for the Azzurri.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good evening everyone! A busy week of international football continues, as countries across Europe try to book their place in at Euro 2016. Our coverage this evening comes from the island of Sicily, where Italy will be confident of maintaining their lead at the top of Group H with a win against Azerbaijan.
The Azzurri have hit the ground running since the appointment of Antonio Conte and got their qualifying campaign off to a winning start by beating Norway last time out. They will see tonight's match and their next fixture against Malta as games they should be taking maximum points from, ahead of a vital meeting with Croatia.
The entrance of the Renzo Barbera Stadium.. Tonight #ItalyAzerbaijian #Euro2016Qualifiers #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/c7OvC5suYv
— Paolo Menicucci (@UEFAcomPaoloM) October 10, 2014
Their opponents are an Azerbaijan side that were beaten 2-1 by Bulgaria in their opening match of the qualifiers. They can consider themselves unlucky not to have snatched a point, as only a late goal from Ventsislav Hristov subjected them to a defeat.
ITALY XI: Buffon, Ranocchia, Bonucci, Chiellini, Darmian, Florenzi, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Sciglio, Zaza, Immobile
AZERBAIJAN XI: K Agayev, Qirtimov, Guseynov, Allahverdiyev, Qarayev, R F Sadygov, A Abdullayev, Nazarov, Amirguliyev, Dadasov, R Aliyev
ITALY SUBS: Sirigu, Perin, Ogbonna, Pasqual, Verratti, Candreva, Poli, Aquilani, Parolo, Giovinco, Pelle, Destro
AZERBAIJAN SUBS: Balayev, S Agayev, Yunuszade, Ufuk Budak, Guliyev, Ramaldanov, C Huseynov, Tashkin, Kurbanov, Ramazanov, Nadirov
The headline news for Italy fans this evening is the inclusion of Andrea Pirlo in the starting lineup. He will make his 113th appearance for the national side and joins Claudio Marchisio and Alessandro Florenzi in the middle. In what is a 3-5-2 formation, Matteo Darmian and Mattia De Sciglio take up the wide roles.
Captain Gianluigi Buffon starts in goal, with Andrea Ranocchia, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini in front of him. In the attack, Simone Zaza and Ciro Immobile are given another chance to build upon their recent strike partnership.
After a miserable World Cup, it is fair to say that things are a lot rosier in the Italy camp. Antonio Conte saw his team beat the Netherlands in a friendly, before they claimed a 2-0 win over Norway in qualifying. Goals from Simone Zaza and Leonardo Bonucci gave them all three points in Oslo, in what turned out to be a very comfortable night.
There is no doubt that the Azzurri will expect to make it through from this group. Three points against the likes of Azerbaijan and Malta are what the fans expect and demand from their team. For a country that has won the World Cup four times there really can be no margin for error.
You suspect that the first real test for Italy in this group will come in next month's meeting with Croatia at the San Siro. There are two automatic qualifying places that many believe will be taken up by both nations, although Bulgaria will certainly be a theat.
When you take a look at the current Italy squad, you immediately notice that there is a big name missing. I am of course talking about Mario Balotelli, who was suspended for last month's game against Norway, but has been omitted for other reasons this time around.
It is fair to say that he hasn't been in great form since his move to Liverpool and has found the back of the net just once in eight appearances for the Reds. Many blamed him for Italy's early exit from the World Cup and feel that his presence in the team has a negative effect, despite the quality that he does possess.
Even without Balotelli, there are plenty of striking options for Conte to choose from. Simone Zaza bagged his first international goal against Norway, while Graziano Pelle has been in great form since joining Southampton. Pablo Osvaldo has also been impressive since joining Inter Milan and the likes of Ciro Immobile and Mattia Destro have quality in abundance.
8 - Italy have always found the net in their last eight games in the European Championship Qualifiers (15 goals). Comfort.
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) October 10, 2014
There are a few other big names missing, but experienced regulars such as Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Barzagli and Riccardo Montolivo are all out injured. However, they are able to call on the services of the brilliant Andrea Pirlo, who returned from a hip injury at the weekend. He was a late call up to the side, following Giacomo Bonaventura's withdrawal with a thigh problem.
Facing Italy this evening are an Azerbaijan side who have never made it to an international tournament. Of course they haven't been playing international football as long as their illustrious hosts and after gaining independence in 1991, their first taste of qualifying was for Euro 1996.
Azerbaijan actually proved to be a dangerous side in qualifying for the last World Cup. They drew six of their 10 qualifiers, including a 1-1 draw against group winners Russia. In the three games they did lose they were by no means embarrassed and were relatively tough to beat at the back, conceding 11 goals.
They haven't been in great form this year though and have lost three out of their last four matches. Their last victory came against the Philippines in a friendly back in March, but you would have to go back to 2010 for the last team they claimed a major scalp. That was in qualifying for Euro 2012, when they pulled off a shock 1-0 win over Turkey.
This is only the third ever meeting between the two sides. They first met in Azerbaijan during the qualifiers for Euro 2004, where Italy claimed a 2-0 win. A year later it was a rather more dominant Italy display, as the hosts ran out 4-0 winners, with Filippo Inzaghi bagging a double.
#ITAAZE: the #Azzurri take a stroll on the pitch in #Palermo #VivoAzzurro #ItalyAzerbaijan #Italy #ForzaAzzurri pic.twitter.com/CQslbjqT8N
— Italy (@azzurri) October 10, 2014
PREDICTION: I don't expect this to be a rout, but I can't see anything other than a win for Italy. They have played some good football under Conte and have a good balance of youth and experience throughout the squad, so I'm going to go for a 2-0 win for the Azzurri.
The players have just made their way out onto the pitch and after we have the national anthems of each country this qualifier will be getting underway!
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadio Renzo Barbera!
It's been a quiet start to the match, with no attempts on goal from either side as yet. As expected, Italy are seeing plenty of the ball and their midfielders are being given a lot of space to operate in.
CHANCE! The first big attacking moment falls to the home side, after Azerbaijan give the ball away to Immobile. The Dortmund striker charges into the box, before pulling the ball back for Marchisio, but he ends up blazing his effort from the edge of the area over the bar.
Immobile is looking very dangerous for Italy in these early stages and again he finds space down the right-hand side of the visitors' defence. He tries to pick out Zaza in the middle, but Huseynov is there to get his head on the ball and clear the danger.
It really is no surprise that Italy are in complete control of this match and they are pegging Azerbaijan back deep inside their own half. Pirlo is already pulling the strings in the heart of the midfield and it surely is just a matter of time until their make their dominance count.
YELLOW CARD! The first booking of the night goes to Dadasov for a high challenge on Chuleinni.
CHANCE! Bonucci scored a stunning goal for Juventus against Roma at the weekend, but he would have been rather more fortunate had he netted this time around, as his low strike from range takes a deflection of Zaza and needs to be tipped around the post by Agayev.
Italy are still seeing all of the ball, but the Azerbaijan defence have tightened up slightly in the past few moments and are closing the space in behind. The hosts will have to be patient and I'm sure that Conte will have been expecting his players to come up against a team prepared to sit back and soak up the pressure.
The fans around the stadium are starting to get slightly frustrated that a number of decisions appear to have gone against their team. If this game was to get to half time still goalless, then I'm sure they will make their feelings known.
It's very easy for Italy, but you feel that if they can step up a gear then this match is theirs for the taking. They haven't created too many opportunities in the past few minutes, with their last shot on goal an Immobile strike from range that is scuffed well wide of the target.
CHANCE! Bonucci has been involved in Italy's most dangerous attacking moves this evening and he comes close again by connecting with Pirlo's corner, but his diving header is at a comfortable height for the keeper to save.
Italy are getting more players forward to each attack and they will need to get their wide men heavily involved. De Sciglio is looking to be a good outlet on the left flank and after breaking down the wing he finds Immobile, who sees his shot deflect wide for a corner.
If anyone looks like scoring tonight then it is Bonucci who has another chance on goal. This time he gets to the front post to latch onto Immobile's low cross, but his effort takes a slight deflection of a defender and makes it easy for the keeper to save.
YELLOW CARD! Pirlo is the first Italian to pick up a card this evening for a crunching late tackle on Aliyev that gave the referee little option but to book him.
CHANCE! Italy really should be ahead and it's another one of their defenders who comes close to scoring. They are awarded a free kick on the right which is whipped into the box by Pirlo, but after winning the ball unopposed, Ranocchia can only power his header over the bar.
With five minutes left until the break Azerbaijan have their first effort on goal. However, it's not a shot that will be remembered, as Dadasov lashes an effort from outside the box well over the bar.
Pirlo has been one of the best players on the pitch and he shows great skill following a corner to set up Marchisio on the edge of the box, but the visitors' defence come out in numbers to block the attempt.
GOAL! Italy 1-0 Azerbaijan (Giorgio Chiellini)
It's taken Italy almost the entire first half, but they have finally taken the lead! It comes from a set piece, as Pirlo's corner from the left is headed in by Chiellini. That will certainly be a massive relief for the players and the fans.
There is going to be one minute of stoppage time at the end of the half.
HALF-TIME: Italy 1-0 Azerbaijan
The first 45 minutes come to an end with Italy deservedly in the lead. They have been in complete control, but had to wait until the end of the half to make the breakthrough. That will have settled some nerves and will have made Conte's half-time team talk much easier.
Chiellini doesn't score too many goals, with that strike only his fifth for the national side. His last goal for his country came over a year ago in a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in World Cup qualifying.
The statistics at half time show the dominance of the home side. Italy have had 59% of the possession and have attempted 11 shots on goal, with seven of those finding the target. Azerbaijan have not posed any sort of threat in attack and have had just one shot on goal, with Buffon merely a spectator.
The fans inside the ground were getting increasingly frustrated at their teams inability to breach the Azerbaijan defence, so that goal could not have come at a much better time. It should open up the match slightly, although you would expect the visitors to sit back and try and keep the score down.
Italy take the kick off and get the match back underway!
CHANCE! What a start to the second half this would have been. Bonucci plays a wonderful ball over the top that finds Zaza in the box and the Sassuolo player tries an audacious overhead kick, but this effort goes just wide of the post.
There has been no change in pattern to this game, with Italy still very much in command. They are full of confidence after taking the lead and are getting players forward much quicker in each attack.
Azerbaijan have hardly been able to get out of their half and they are under intense pressure at the moment. The Italians are finding a lot more space down the flanks than they did in the first half and the likes of Zaza and Immobile are causing a lot of problems with their pace.
Pirlo just hasn't been closed down at all by the visitors and it has allowed him to run the game from the centre. He has played some great passes this evening and his latest finds De Sciglio on the left wing. The Milan player then picks out Florenzi on the edge of the box, but his low strike is well blocked.
SUBSTITUTION: Azerbaijan make their first change of the evening, with Huseynov replacing Dadasov.
The visitors finally get into a good position to put the Italians under some real pressure as they win a free kick just inside their opponents' half. They send a number of players into the box for the set piece, but the delivery from Abdullayev is poor and goes straight out of play.
Many of Italy's best chances have come from set pieces and Pirlo delivers another dangerous cross into the middle, but this time Nazarov gets his head on the ball to knock it behind and away from danger.
Zaza put an overhead kick narrowly wide at the start of the half and he tries his luck again with a decent effort that looks goalbound, before being blocked on it's way through to the keeper.
Azerbaijan register their second attempt on goal of the second half. It's Huseynov who has the shot, as he breaks from the centre of midfield and finds some space around 25 yards out from goal. However, his strike is not the cleanest of hits and looks to be heading wide before Buffon claims the ball with ease.
CHANCE! The hosts miss a big opportunity to stretch their lead. Darmian does well on the right and whips a low cross into the box that Zaza meets at the front post, but he can only direct the ball wide of the target.
Immobile feels that he should have a penalty after a great run that sees him burst into the box, before appearing to be caught. It would have been a harsh decision on the visitors though, as he had taken a heavy touch with the ball well out of his reach.
SUBSTITUTION: It's a standing ovation as Pirlo heads off for Italy to be replaced by Aquilani. The Juventus midfielder has been the best player on the pitch and is still such a crucial part of this side.
GOAL! Italy 1-1 Azerbaijan (Giorgio Chiellini own goal)
What a shock this could turn out to be, as Azerbaijan draw level with 14 minutes of the match remaining. A corner is whipped in from the left and the ball hits Chiellini before ending up in the net. The visitors have posed no threat whatsoever, but could well take a precious point home from Sicily.
SUBSTITUTION: Italy respond to that goal by making a change, with Giovinco coming on for Florenzi.
SUBSTITUTION: It's another change for Italy, as Darmian makes way for Candreva.
GOAL! Italy 2-1 Azerbaijan (Giorgio Chiellini)
Incredibly it's Chiellini who has found the back of the net for the third time this evening! Much of the credit should go to Giovinco, who shows great skill to work some space and whip in a great cross to Chiellini at the front post, who then heads the ball past Agayev.
YELLOW CARD! Sadiqov picks up a booking for the visitors for a poor challenge on Immobile.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Immobile has the ball in the back of the net, but it has been ruled out for a foul on the keeper by Zaza. It was a fine finish from the Dortmund striker, who lashed the ball home on the half-volley, but the whistle had already blown.
SUBSTITUTION: The visitors make a change, with Nadirov coming on for Amirguliyev.
YELLOW CARD! Zaza is the second Italian to pick up a booking this evening.
Giovinco has been brilliant since coming on and he sets up another attack with a run from deep inside his own half. He advances to just outside the Azerbaijan box and tries to slip Immobile through, but the keeper is out quickly to smother the ball.
There are going to be three minutes of stoppage time.
OFF THE BAR! The impact that Giovinco has made in the past 10 minutes cannot be underestimated and without him Italy may still be level. On this occasion he comes close to grabbing a goal of his own, as he takes aim from 25 yards out with a swinging strike that comes crashing off the top of the bar.
FULL-TIME: Italy 2-1 Azerbaijan
It's all over and Italy have edged past Azerbaijan. It looked as if there may have been a shock on the cards, but the hosts dug deep to keep up their winning run under Antonio Conte.
#ITAAZE: it's all over in #Palermo, #Italy beat #Azerbaijan thanks to a brace from @chiellini pic.twitter.com/E1A7hItso7
— Italy (@azzurri) October 10, 2014
What a strange night it must have been for Giorgio Chiellini. The Juventus defender scored twice for his country, but also put the ball in his own net. What matters most is that that Italy have the victory which has kept them on top of Group H with six points from their opening two matches.
That's all we've got time for here after a dramatic evening in Palermo. We'll have all the action from the Euro 2016 qualifiers over the weekend and on Monday night I'll be bringing you live commentary of Italy's next match against Malta. Make sure you join us for that! Until then, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
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