Acquafresca keeps Italy ticking

Pierluigi Casiraghi's Italy still have a 100 per cent record in Group 1 after defeating Croatia 2-0 in Chieti with a goal in each half from Cagliari Calcio striker Robert Acquafresca.

Rossi assist
The visitors were arguably the more dangerous side in the early stages of the game but it was Italy who took the lead after 40 minutes when Acquafresca turned a low cross by Giuseppe Rossi from the left past Ivan Vargic. Acquafresca added his second 12 minutes into the second half, heading a cross by captain Marco Motta from the right inside the far post.

Crunch meeting
The Azzurrini continued to create opportunities with Sebastian Giovinco going close with a superb lob, then Rossi's close-range shot was well saved by Vargic. The win moved Italy three points clear of second-placed Croatia and Greece with Casiraghi's team travelling to the third-place side on Tuesday, a day before Croatia visit the Faroe Islands.