Nations League: Cristiano Biraghi scores dramatic winner as Italy relegate Poland

Cristiano Biraghi scored a dramatic winner as Italy kept their Nations League hopes alive with a 1-0 victory over Poland in their League A Group 3 clash on Sunday.

Biraghi, 26, slid into goal two minutes into added time to score his maiden international goal and give coach Roberto Mancini his first competitive victory ever since taking up the job last May when the Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup.

For Poland, the defeat, their second at home following the loss to Portugal on Thursday, meant they will finish third in the group and will be relegated to second-tier League B.

“A new cycle has already begun,” coach Roberto Mancini was quoted as saying by AFP. “We dominated the game, we had to score the first goal. It would have been unfair to finish 0-0. All the lads are trying to do their best. It’s a good win in a very good game.”

In what was termed as Italy’s best performance by many, ever since their disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign, the visitors came several times close to scoring but never managed to put the ball into the net until Biraghi struck.

Jorginho hit the bar in the first minute, while Federico Chiesa also struck the woodwork at the half-hour mark.

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Minutes later Lorenzo Insigne had two glorious chances, but the Napoli forward dinked the ball over the net from an Alessandro Florenzi’s pass in the first, while he struck the upright in the second after Chiesa sent him through.

Chelsea signing Jorginho then forced Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny into a tough save and the home team will have the custodian to thank for keeping the score limited to goalless in the first half.

The Juventus goalkeeper denied Alessandro Florenzi, Jorginho, Federico Bernardeschi and club teammate Giorgio Chiellini from scoring.

Bernardeschi also headed wide from a free ball as Italy found it difficult to find the net despite dominating for most of the first half.

Poland had their chances too, most of which came in the second half. Kamil Grosicki had the best opportunity for them when he was sent clear by Roberto Lewandowski, but his shot was parried away by Gianluigi Donnarumma with Arkadiusz Milik firing the ball wide from a rebound.

But just as it looked that both sides would settle for a draw, Italy scored from the last corner of the game. Debutant Kevin Lasagne, who came on as a substitute swung the ball in at the near post for Biraghi, playing only his third game, to head home as the entire Italy bench aroused to delirious celebrations.

The victory kept Italy alive in the top tier, while Portugal remained on top with six points from two games. Italy are second with four points from three games.

Image Source: AS English