European Qualifier: Italy edge to victory in Malta

Italy edged past Group H opponents Malta with a 1-0 victory in their European Qualifier with Southampton's Graziano Pelle scoring the goal on his international debut.

Both teams finished the match with 10 men as Malta skipper Michael Mifsud and Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci walked in either half, while Pelle scored the only goal on 24 minutes.

The decisive strike came after Andrew Hogg saved Bonucci’s downward header at his near post from a Manuel Pasqual corner and as the ball spun around the six-yard box Pelle stabbed it over the line.

Mifsud (27) was shown a straight red by Romanian referee Ovidiu Alin Hategan after challenging for a bouncing ball with Alessandro Florenzi, although contact appeared to be minimal.

Bonucci was also given a straight red on 73 minutes for a trip on Andre Schembri as the Malta forward ran onto a clearance from Andrei Agius.

Malta came close to opening the scoring on 15 minutes when Clayton Failla crashed a low drive from 25 yards wide of Gianluigi Buffon’s left post as Italy struggled to clear the ball.

Two minutes later Pasqual delivered a superb cross from the left side of the Malta box and Pelle sent a header crashing off the underside of the bar before the rebound was hooked behind by Agius.

Giorgio Chiellini met the resulting corner from Pasqual the far side of the six-yard box and powered his header against the outside of the post.

Failla had another effort at goal when he curled a free-kick from 30 yards past the same post as before, but on this occasion Buffon appeared to have the ball covered.

Hogg was almost caught out at his near post in the opening minute of the second half when a sliced delivery from Antonio Candreva shaved the bar.

And Malta survived another scare three minutes when Ryan Camilleri appeared to clip the heels of Ciro Immobile just inside the penalty area, but the match officials allowed play to flow.

Italy then squandered a great opportunity when Marco Verratti chipped a wonderful cross towards the back post but Immobile sent his header straight into the hand of Hogg from five yards.

And Italy were denied by the woodwork again in stoppage-time when Sebastian Giovinco raced into the box to latch on to Claudio Marchisio’s flick and send his low drive against the bottom of the far post.