Euro 2020: Italy set unbeaten record, overpower Austria to advance to quarter-finals

ITALY forced their way through to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Austria at Wembley.

It took extra-time against the plucky Austrians but Italy eventually prevailed with goals from substitutes Enrico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina. Sasa Kalajdzic scored Austria’s goal in the absorbing encounter.

With the win, Roberto Mancini’s side extended their unbeaten run to 31 matches, which is the longest in Italy’s history.

After a bright first half in which Italy were dominant and created good chances, Austria matched them and blunted their edges in the second half.

Indeed, Austria thought they had got the lead their second-half endeavour deserved when Marko Arnautovic scored in the 65th minute.

The goal was however ruled out for offside after VAR checks.
Italy started the extra-time with more pace in their game and they got the opening goal five minutes in when Chiesa beat his marker in the Austria box and slammed the ball home.

It was 2-0 ten minutes later, on the stroke of half-time of extra-time, when Pessina drove through a sea of legs with a powerful low drive from the left of the Austria box.

The Austrians, captained by David Alaba, did not relent and they got a goal back to make it a grandstand finish.

Kalajdzic, who was also a substitute, dived low to head into the Italy net from a corner with six minutes left in the game.

The Italians held on for the win to set up a heavyweight quarter-final against Belgium or Portugal on Friday in Munich.