Italy visits Zenica to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina with the victor claiming UEFA Pathway A and a spot in Group B at this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
The winner will play Canada in their opening match on June 12 at Toronto’s BMO Field.
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FULL TIME – Bosnia 1, Italy 1 (4-1 on penalties)GOAL – Bosnia 4, Italy 1 – Esmir BajraktarevićNO GOAL – Bosnia 3, Italy 1 – Bryan CristanteGOAL – Bosnia 3, Italy 1 – Kerim AlajbegovićGOAL – Bosnia 2, Italy 1 – Sandro TonaliGOAL – Bosnia 2, Italy 0 – Haris TabakovićNO GOAL – Bosnia 1, Italy 0 – Pio EspositoGOAL – Bosnia 1, Italy 0 – Benjamin TahirovićFULL TIME OF EXTRA TIME – Bosnia 1, Italy 1
We are going to penalties. Hold on to your hats.
119′ – A 10th corner for Bosnia
The hosts take another corner short and it leads to Tahirović pulling a shot just wide.
112′ – 11 saves for Donnarumma
Shots are now 29 to 9 for Bosnia, but Italy will have to like their chances if this goes to pens.
107′ – Demirović attempts the spectacular
Demirović attempts an incredible bicycle kick…and it’s not good and sails harmlessly away for a goal kick.
ET HALF-TIME Bosnia 1, Italy 1
We are 15 minutes away from penalties.
105′+1 – Late chance for the Azzurri
Vasilj is called into action for only the second time as he does well to keep out an Esposito header from close range.
105′+1 – Not great from Tonali
Tonali takes the ensuing free kick from the Muharemović foul and it’s right into the wall.
102′ – Italy comes close
An incredible pass from Tonali springs Palestra, who is taken to the ground by Muharemović. It’s a free kick and a booking, but the Azzurri wants a straight red and it’s hard to not see their point after the Bastoni sending off.
96′ – Nervy minutes here
With both teams terrified of making a mistake, we’ve seen a very conservative opening minutes of the extra period.
91′ – Back underway
After a quick breather, we are back underway.
FULL TIME – Bosnia 1, Italy 1
We are going to extra time in Zenica.
90′+1 – Penalty shout for Bosnia
Demirović is hauled down by Mancini and Bosnia is incensed there is no call. There will be no VAR check.
90′ – Three minutes of stoppage
Can the Azzurri hang on?
87′ – Outrageous save from Donnarumma
My goodness. Donnarumma robs Demirović from close-range for his ninth save of the match.
83′ – Hard to see on the pitch right now
The Bosnian fans have released flares and the field is covered in smoke.
79′ – GOAL – Bosnia 1, Italy 1 – Haris Tabaković
A wild scramble in front results in Haris Tabaković poking home to send Zenica into hysterics. Italy is pleading for a foul in the lead-up, but nothing is coming.
75′ – More changes
Goal scorer Kean and Manuel Locatelli head to the side lines with Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante, he of a Canadian father, are on the pitch. Memic and Basic are off for Burnic and Tabaković.
72′ – Incredible save from Donnarumma
Benjamin Tahirović thought he had it level, but Gigio Donnarumma’s beautiful diving save ensures the Azzurri still lead.
66′ – Final ball letting hosts down
Bosnia and Herzegovina are maintaining possession and the action is decidedly in the Italy half, but there’s no bite to the hosts’ attack right now. Time is ticking down.
60′ – Kean almost doubles lead
Moise Kean picks off a pass and races clear in on goal and rifles a shot over the bar. Will he live to regret that?
54′ – Tahirović goes into the book
Benjamin Tahirović is cautioned for pulling back Sandro Tonali to stop a break forward.
50′ – More of the same from Bosnia
The hosts are once again controlling the pace and keeping the pressure on Italy. A Demirović comes close.
47′ – Changes for both teams
Marco Palestra is on for Matteo Politano for his second Italy appearance. On the other side of the pitch, Ivan Šunjić’s day is over with Benjamin Tahirović coming on.
46′ – Back underway from Zenica
Italy is 45 minutes away from returning to the World Cup, but can they hold on? The Azzurri will play the second half on 10 men after Alessandro Bastoni saw red.
HALF-TIME – Bosnia 0, Italy 1
It’s all left to play for in the second half. Italy leads 1-0 through Moise Kean, but are now on 10 men after Alessandro Bastoni was shown a straight red.
45′+1 – Hosts pouring it on
Minutes after Donnarumma was forced into a save on a Katic header, Memic heads just wide.
43′ – Gattuso forced into change
With Bastoni sent off, Gattuso has withdrawn Retegui in favour of Juventus’s Federico Gatti.
41′ – RED CARD – Alessandro Bastoni
Holy hell. Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni is shown a straight red for a reckless lunge on Memic. Bosnia now has a free kick just outside the area.
38′ – The hosts come close
Italy has been content with Bosnia maintaining possession and they were almost made to pay for it. An Ermedin Demirović header goes just wide of Donnarumma’s far post.
36′ – Memic attempts the spectacular
Amar Memic’s diving header clears the bar over Donnarumma’s goal, but it might not have counted had he scored. The Viktoria Plzen midfielder appeared to be offside.
34′ – Calafiori snuffs out Bajraktarević
A promising-looking move forward by the hosts goes for naught with Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori doing well to see off the challenge of Bajraktarević
30′ – Pitch creating problems
This is probably not the best pitch either of these teams has played on before with some unexpected bounces creating issues with possession.
23′ – Donnarumma stays busy
Since falling behind, Bosnia has done well to control the tempo. Manchester City goalkeeper Donnarumma is sent into action again, saving from Nikola Katić.
20′ – Bosnia looks to hit back
From a corner earned by buzzing around the Azzurri goal, Gigio Donnarumma is forced into a fine save from Bajraktarević.
15’ – GOAL – Bosnia 0, Italy 1 – Moise Kean
A disaster for Bosnia and Herzegovina. With plenty of time and space, Vasilj gives the ball away to Retegui who sets up Kean to slot home to make it 1-0. It’s his sixth straight game with a goal in an Italy shirt.
8′ – End-to-end stuff
Tonali, the difference maker against Northern Ireland, tries to spring Retegui, but he mistimes his flick-on. The hosts come back the other way with Dzeko looking for Memic, but that’s dealt with by Barella.
4′ – Dzeko makes his presence known
The wily veteran Edin Dzeko tries to find Dedic and the play results in a Bosnian corner. Nothing comes of it.
2′ – Looking for Kean again
Against Northern Ireland, Italy consistently looked to play in Moise Kean over the top and we’ve already seen Federico Dimarco try to do that again.
We are underway
Italy is in white with the hosts in blue.
Today’s teams
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj; Memic, Muharemovic, Katic, Kolasinac; Sunjic, Basic, Dedic; Demirovic, Dzeko, Bajraktarevic
Italy: Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Tonali, Locatelli, Barella,Dimarco; Kean, Retegui