Italy 4-0 Malta - Domenico Berardi bags brace as hosts secure comfortable victory in Euro 2024 qualifier
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Updated 14/10/2023 at 21:12 GMT
It was always expected to be a fairly comfortable evening for Italy in their Euro 2024 qualifying encounter with Malta, and so it proved as the hosts put up four goals in an impressive display. Malta offered little, but ultimately did well to keep the scoreline down to four as Domenico Berardi bagged a brace for his side in the empathic victory at Stadio San Nicola.
Giacomo Bonaventura of Italy celebrates with Manuel Locatelli and Domenico Berardi after scoring the goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 European qualifier match between Italy and Malta at Stadio San Nicola
Image credit: Getty Images
Italy moved into the Euro 2024 automatic qualifying spots after a 4-0 victory over Malta at Stadio San Nicola on Saturday.
Giacomo Bonaventura put Luciano Spalletti’s side ahead in the opening period with his first goal for his country at the age of 34.
Domenico Berardi struck beautifully on the stroke of half-time to double the Italians' lead.
Berardi struck again in the second half, just after the hour mark, for his second and Italy’s third with Davide Frattesi adding a late fourth.
The win moves Italy above Ukraine and into second place before they face Group C leaders England on Tuesday, with only three points separating the sides.
There was little to split the two teams in the opening 20 minutes, with both sides looking to attack but neither getting much joy in their respective attacking thirds.
In a touching moment for Bonaventura, the midfielder picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and turned 180 degrees on the spot before he looped a shot over goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
Just before the break, Berardi played a scruffy one-two on the edge of the box with Nicolo Barella and then looped the return pass into the far left corner to put Italy in firm control.
At this point, Italy were in cruise control, and a third goal followed when Giacomo Raspadori’s deflected cross trickled into the path of the arriving Berardi who slammed the ball home with force for his second of the match.
Frattesi completed a good night's work for Italy with a fourth in injury time.
TALKING POINT - ITALY CLOSE THE GAP ON ENGLAND
This win means Italy are now just three points behind England in Group C with the pair set to face off at Wembley on Tuesday. The Italians briefly dropped out of the top two automatic qualification places after Ukraine’s victory over North Macedonia earlier in the day, but regained their position following a routine win over Malta.
Even if Italy do turn up and get a result at Wembley, England’s goal difference is far superior so they will remain top going into the final two games. Gareth Southgate’s side boasts a +14 GD while Italy, although they improved it against Malta, only have a +6.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - DOMENICO BERARDI (ITALY)
Everyone in the Italian team did their job - apart from maybe Gianluigi Donnarumma who hardly got a feel of the ball - which makes it hard to pinpoint a single standout performance.
But when a player scores a brace, especially in the way it was scored, they deserve a special mention. Berardi took his goals superbly, planting the first one in the top corner from the edge of the box before powerfully slamming home the second, scoring with both of his shots.
MATCH RATINGS
ITALY: Donnarumma 7, Darmian 7, Mancini 7, Bastoni 8, Dimarco 7, Barella 7, Locatelli 7, Bonaventura 8, Berardi 9, Raspadori 7, Kean 8
Subs: Biraghi N/A, Udogie 6, Frattesi 7, Scamacca 6, Orsolini 6
MALTA: Bonello 4, J. Mbong 5, Apap 6, Pepe 5, Muscat 5, Camenzuli 5, Guillaumier 6, Kristensen 6, Yankam 6, Montebello 6, P. Mbong 6
Subs: Attard 6, Paiber N/A, Muscat 6, Satariano 6, Nwoko N/A
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
5’ - ITALY HIT THE BAR! Giacomo Raspadori curls a corner into the box and Gianluca Mancini's looped header beats Henry Bonello and crashes off the bar. A good start for the Italians.
17’ - ITALY CALL FOR A PENALTY! Kean is sharp down the left to break into the box and drive towards the byline where Ferdinando comes across to make a sliding challenge and sends the ball behind for a corner. The ref is having none of it and it will just be a corner... which comes to nothing.
23’ - GOAL!! ITALY 1-0 MALTA (BONAVENTURA): Giacomo Bonaventura is the lucky recipient of a loose ball on the edge of the box as Kean is tackled, the midfielder turns 180 degrees on the spot before making room for a shot and looping the ball over Bonello!
45’+1 - GOAL!! ITALY 2-0 MALTA (BERARDI): The midfielder plays a scruffy one-two on the edge of the box with Barella before getting the ball out of his feet and looping a shot with his left across the face of goal and into the far left corner. It was a very similar finish to the first goal.
57’ - MALTA COME CLOSE! Yannick Yankam has an angled, close-range shot blocked by Bastoni in the six-yard box.
64’ - GOAL!! ITALY 3-0 MALTA (BERARDI): Raspadori drives down the left and finds Kean in the middle, and he completely scuffs his shot, but the ball fortunately deflects into the path of the arriving Berardi who slams the ball home with force!
90’+4 - GOAL!! ITALY 4-0 MALTA (FRATTESI): The substitute rolls the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to add to a deserved fourth goal and cap off the victory!
KEY STAT
- Italy haven’t lost to Malta in their last six meetings, winning all six.
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