PARIS: Jorginho fired Italy to within a touching distance of Euro 2020 with a spot-kick winner that beat nearest rivals Finland 2-1 on Sunday and maintained his side’s perfect qualifying record.
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho’s 79th-minute penalty in Tampere made it six wins from six for Roberto Mancini’s side and sent them six points clear of the second-placed Finns in Group J, after in-form Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki had leveled Ciro Immobile’s headed opener with a penalty of his own six minutes before.
With two teams qualifying from the group, four-time world champions Italy are flying high with a maximum 18 points with four qualifying games to play, nine points ahead of third-placed Armenia despite their thrilling 4-2 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier on Sunday. They could now secure qualification for the tournament, which kicks off in Rome next June, against Greece or Liechtenstein — who surprisingly drew in Athens — next month.
(Agencies)
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