Italy qualify in style
Italy 3 Faroe Islands 1
Italy ended their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign in style with an emphatic triumph over the Faroe Islands.
Defender Frodi Benjaminsen’s own goal from Massimo Oddo’s cross put the world champions in front after 10 minutes played.
Luca Toni doubled the lead on 26 minutes before Giorgio Chiellini’s stunning strike shortly before the break gave the Azzurri a commanding advantage.
The Faroes reduced the deficit seven minutes from the end with Rogvi Jacobsen’s header but the visitors ended the qualifying tournament without a single point.
The outcome ensured Italy finished top of Group B.
Having already earned qualification for next summer’s finals with a 2-1 triumph in Scotland on Saturday, Italy coach Roberto Donadoni rested several top players.
The hosts started well and could have taken the lead early on with Toni’s close-range header going just wide. It didn’t take Italy long to break the deadlock.
There was little goalkeeper Jacup Mikkelsen could do with Benjaminsen deflecting Oddo’s pass into his own net.
Italy continued to press forward and shortly after the half-hour mark they increased their advantage.
Toni got on the end of Fabio Grosso’s cross before firing past Mikkelsen to make it 2-0.
The Azzurri continued to control possession and their efforts were again rewarded when Chiellini’s 25-yard strike stunned Mikkelsen.
Faroes could have reduced the deficit shortly before half-time with Suni Olsen’s strike from the distance going just wide of Marco Amelia’s far post.
Jogvan Martin Olsen’s side picked up where they left off, with Olsen’s free-kick going high over the crossbar.
Mikkelsen was heavily involved and his next save was all the more spectacular as he had to fully stretch to clear Toni’s right-footed strike towards the near post.
Herbert Jacobsen’s header went wide of the near post while at the other end, Hanus Thorleifson had to make a goalline clearance from substitute Fabio Quagliarella’s powerful header.
On 83 minutes, the Faroes finally found the target, with Jacobsen’s poweful header towards the near post beating Amelia.
The World Cup winners could have conceded a second had Amelia not saved Johan Davidsen’s header.
