Italy managed to qualify for the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 after silencing Austria 2-1 in the round of 16 of Euro 2020 (Euro 2021) at Wembley Stadium, London, England, Sunday (27/6).
Italy’s goals were scored by Federico Chiesa in the 95th minute and Matteo Pessina’s flick in the 105th minute. Meanwhile, Austria’s only goal was scored by Sasa Kalajdzic in the 114th minute.
Both teams played tight and fast games since the first whistle sounded. Austria were surprisingly able to put more pressure into the Italian defense in the first five minutes of the game.
Not many chances were created in the first half. However, Italy’s best chance came in the 32nd minute, after Italian striker Ciro Immobile’s shot hit the Austrian post. The first half ended with the score 0-0.
Entering the second half, Italy tried to appear more aggressive to aim for a quick goal. However, Austria’s strong defense made it difficult for Italy to maximize the gap they got.
Austria tried to respond through the individual actions of Marko Arnautovic who managed to outwit three Italian defenders. Unfortunately, the final solution was not optimal so the opportunity was wasted.
In the 51st minute, Austria again made Italy nervous after David Alaba’s free kick glided thinly over the Italian crossbar.
In the 65th minute, Austria almost silenced Italy through a goal scored by Marko Arnautovic. Continuing the bait from David Alaba’s header, Arnautovic, who was standing without a guard, managed to head the ball into Donnarumma’s goal.
However, the goal was disallowed after referee Anthony Tailor checked VAR and it was proven Arnautovic was in an offside position.
Realizing that Austria was increasingly dangerous, Italy appeared more insistent. In the 72nd minute, Italy had threatened the Austrian goal through Manuel Locatelli’s shot which was still slightly off the left side of the Austrian goal.
Until the second half ended, neither team could score. The second half match ended with the score 0-0 and the match went to extra time.
Only four minutes of the first half of extra time took place, Italy successfully broke the deadlock. In the 95th minute Italy managed to lead 1-0 through Federico Chiesa who managed to strike the ball from a narrow angle.
Italy again threatened the Austrian goal in the 105th minute through Lorenzo Insigne’s free kick, but his shot was parried by the Austrian goalkeeper and only created a corner.
One minute later, Italy managed to widen the advantage to 2-0 through Matteo Pessina’s flick after taking advantage of the chaos in front of the Austrian goal. Italy managed to close the first extra time with a 2-0 advantage.
Entering the second extra time, Austria did not seem to give up. In the first minute of the second extra round, Austria threatened through Michael Gregotitsch’s hard kick. However, his shot can still be parried by Donnarumma.
Italy immediately responded with a quick counter-attack, unfortunately Chiesa’s finishing was still weak so it was easily secured by the Austrian goalkeeper.
The solo run of the Italian player Pessina from the back line to the front of the Austrian goal was also able to threaten the Austrian goal, but his hard shot was still wide on the left side of the opponent’s goal.
In the 110th minute, it was Austria’s turn to get a chance through Marcel Sabitzer’s close-range shot, but unfortunately his shot still didn’t meet the target.
In the 114th minute, Austria finally managed to reduce the gap to 1-2 through Sasa Kalajdzic’s header following Louis Schaub’s corner.
In the 119th minute, Italy came close to extending the lead through Chiesa who darted past the Austrian keeper, but his effort was cut short by an Austrian defender.
The 2-1 score lasted until the end of the match, Italy also made sure to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Italy vs Austria line-up in the last 16 of Euro 2020:
Italy XI (4-3-3) : 21 Gianluigi Donnarumma; 2 Giovanni Di Lorenzo, 19 Leonardo Bonucci, 15 Francesco Acerbi, 4 Leonardo Spinazzola; 18 Nicolo Barella, 8 Jorginho, 6 Marco Verratti; 11 Domenico Berardi, 17 Ciro Immobile, 10 Lorenzo Insigne
Austria XI (4-2-3-1) : 13 Daniel Bachmann; 21 Stefan Lainer, 4 Marfin Hinteregger, 3 Aleksandar Dragovic, 8 David Alaba; 10 Florian Grillitsch, 23 Xaver Schlager; 24 Konrad Laimer, 9 Marcel Sabitzer, 19 Christoph Baumgartner; 7 Marko Arnautovic
