Cigarini provides spark for Azzurrini

Italy needed a late goal from midfielder Luca Cigarini to claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory against the Faroe Islands in Trento.

Hansen strike
Pierluigi Casiraghi's team looked on course for a comfortable Group 1 victory when Andrea Russotto struck on 26 minutes, firing in after a superb defence-splitting pass from Sebastian Giovinco. The visitors soon restored parity, however, when Einar Hansen caught Azzurrini goalkeeper Andrea Consigli out of position from 40 metres and it set up a frenetic second half. Giovinco almost made it 2-1 but his effort hit the post and instead it was Cigarini that took the honour with a powerful effort from outside the area after the Faroese defence had failed to clear a Giovinco corner.