Italy Strike Late To Earn Mancini First Win

By Max Wise

Poland  suffered a humiliating relegation to the UEFA Nations League-B after a late 1-0 defeat to Italy at home at the Stadion Slaski.

Cristiano Biraghi broke the deadlock two minutes into extra time to settle a feisty contest, which saw the goalkeepers of both sides emerging as the heroes of the night with magnificent saves.

It was Jerzy Brzeczek‘s White and Reds’ second straight defeat in the competition in this international break and their third time of dropping points following their 1-1 drawn game in Italy in the reverse fixture.

The win also represents Roberto Mancini's first competitive win since his appointment as the Azurri's manager.

Poland have dropped from the League-A, which has the elite football countries to League-B with only a point in three games as leaders, Portugal, and second-placed Italy maintain their slots in the group.

Italy’s Jorginho crashed a shot against the crossbar in the 2nd minute, Lorenzo Insigne followed suit with another shot onto the crossbar on the half-hour mark, two minutes before Poland’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny proved equal to Jorginho’s measured shot into the bottom right corner by pulling up a fine save to it.

Wojciech Szczesny showed his brilliance again with a glorious reflex save to Giorgio Chiellini header in the 36th minute, the goalkeeper showed off his skills again with a brilliant save to deny Alessandro Florenzi from shooting into the net in the 44th minute, before Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma earned the fans’ applauds by magnificently stopping Kamil Grosicki from hitting into the net from close-range.

Kamil Grosicki received a low pass just outside the box and unleashed a fine strike towards the roof of the net, but Gianluigi Donnarumma pulled off a reflex save to block his effort. Federico Bernardeschi sidestepped a tackle after receiving a pass and hit a booming shot from mid-range, which flew over the bar at the last second, and Cristiano Biraghi fired home from very close range two minutes into extra time after latching on to a pass from Kevin Lasagna.