Moldova 0-2 Italy: Norway still in control despite last-gasp away victory
Italy will likely have to navigate the play-off route if they are to feature at next year's World Cup despite beating Moldova.
Italy put on a late show to see off Moldova with a 2-0 away win in World Cup qualifying, though have little chance of snatching top spot from Norway.
Norway thrashed Estonia 4-1 prior to Italy's last-gasp victory, but Gennaro Gattuso's side are three points behind the Group I leaders and have a significantly inferior goal difference before hosting them in Sunday's final encounter.
Italy would need victory by a nine-goal margin to avoid facing the play-offs for a third straight World Cup qualifying campaign, having faltered in their last two such attempts.
But Gattuso's side may, at least, take some confidence into their likely play-off efforts after forcing their way through late on.
Gianluca Scamacca saw an early effort deflected wide before Gianluca Mancini somehow volleyed over with the goal at his mercy near the six-yard box.
Moldova almost struck against the run of play, but Virgiliu Postolachi could not direct a rare chance on target before Riccardo Orsolini and Bryan Cristante both whistled narrowly off target in a goalless first half.
An excellent last-ditch block from Ioan-Calin Revenco then stopped Andrea Cambiaso from opening the scoring after half-time, but Italy would eventually find their breakthrough.
Mancini delivered the opener in the 88th minute when heading home from Federico Dimarco's cross, before two substitutes made sure of victory four minutes later.
Fine work from Matteo Politano created space down the right before his lofted cross found the head of Francesco Pio Esposito, who scored for a victory that will likely prove redundant for Italy's qualification hopes.
Data Debrief: Patience pays off for Gattuso
Italy mustered 0.97 expected goals (xG) in the first half but were unable to break down a resolute Moldova, who managed just 17.7% possession across the opening 45 minutes in an incredibly defensive setup.
That theme continued into the second half as Gattuso's side ended with an overall xG 2.59 to Moldova's meagre 0.41.
All that mattered for the visitors was the scoreline, however, as Italy finally made their chances count through Mancini and Esposito.
The victory also saw Gattuso become only the third Italy boss to win each of the first five matches in charge, following Edmondo Fabbri between 1962 and 1963 and Azeglio Vicini between 1986 and 1987.
