GiveMeSport
·26 June 2021
GiveMeSport
·26 June 2021
Italy were expected to beat Austria relatively comfortably in their Euro 2020 last-16 clash at Wembley.
However, things didn’t exactly go to plan for Roberto Mancini’s side.
The Italians came up against a hard-working and well-organised opponent in Austria and they were limited to very few opportunities.
In fact, during the 90 minutes, Austria possibly had better opportunities to win the match.
They actually thought they had won the game when Marko Arnautovic headed home in the 65th-minute only for VAR to rule it offside.
They then believed they should have had a penalty shortly afterwards only for VAR, once again, to adjudge them to be offside.
So, extra time beckoned.
And within five minutes of extra time, Italy finally took the lead.
And it came through substitute Federico Chiesa.
Chiesa was introduced in the 85th-minute and he took just 10 minutes of playing time to give Italy the lead - and it was a wonderfully taken goal.
The Big Fat Euro 2020 Quiz
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Leonardo Spinazzola picked out Chiesa, who picked up the ball from a tight angle.
However, the Juventus man produced three perfect touches to fire Italy ahead.
First, the 23-year-old controlled the ball with his head.
Then, he cushioned the ball into the ground with his right foot past Konrad Laimer. Finally, he fired the ball home with his left past Watford’s Daniel Bachmann.
What. A. Goal.
And before half-time in extra-time, Italy made it 2-0.
Matteo Pessina fired home to double their lead and book Italy’s place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Pessina's goal was met with a quite superb celebration as he appeared to 'face slide' into the turf.
Ouch.
Austria did pull a goal back that they deserved through Sasa Kalajdzic but Italy held on.