Moldova 0-2 Italy: Better late than never in Chisinau

Gianluca Mancini and Italy celebrate the opening goal in their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Moldova (@azzurri)

Italy had to wait until the 88^th minute to push past Moldova with Gianluca Mancini and Francesco Pio Esposito headers, at least keeping pressure on Norway to the end.

The Azzurri knew first place was beyond reach due to Norway’s 100 per cent record and incredible goal difference. Moise Kean and Niccolò Cambiaghi pulled out with injuries, with Nicolò Barella suspended, so Gennaro Gattuso rotated the squad in Chisinau. They beat Moldova 2-0 in June, which was the last Luciano Spalletti match ahead of his dismissal. This was the debut for the new kit.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Giacomo Raspadori forced a tricky save at the near post on the lay-off from his former Sassuolo teammate Gianluca Scamacca, while Andrei Cojuhar parried the cheeky Bryan Cristante back-heel flick on a corner from close range.

Riccardo Orsolini blasted over, then his free kick was flapped into the path of Gianluca Mancini, who couldn’t keep the finish down from 12 yards after an awkward bounce.

Virgiliu Postolachi also volleyed over from a very promising position for Moldova when relatively unmarked, and Raspadori was flagged offside when testing Cojuhar with his half-volley on the turn.

Sandro Tonali’s strike was charged down from the edge of the area and Cristante’s scorcher skimmed the far post, but Orsolini should’ve tried a pass rather than blasting wide from a tricky angle.

After the restart, Scamacca’s back-heel flick carried on a cross to the back post, where Andrea Cambiaso’s finish from six yards was bravely charged down by Ioan-Calin Revenco.

Bitca threw himself in the way of a Scamacca effort from just inside the area, and Sandro Tonali stung the goalkeeper’s gloves.

Mateo Retegui and Francesco Pio Esposito came off the bench, immediately seeing efforts charged down from close range, the Inter striker also forcing a save with his scuffed volley from 10 yards on a Matteo Politano cross.

Moments later, Esposito swept wide of the near post from Zaccagni’s assist with the inside of the right boot.

The mad scramble and series of crosses finally paid off for Italy at the 88^th minute with a diving Gianluca Mancini header on Federico Dimarco’s cross from the left, finding the near bottom corner from just inside the area.

It was very nearly 2-0 moments later, but Davide Frattesi ballooned over from eight yards on a Retegui pull-back from the by-line.

The second goal did arrive in stoppages, when Matteo Politano’s cross from the right found Pio Esposito for the towering header at the back post.

Retegui threatened a third with the last kick of the game, his looping header cleared with difficulty.

Moldova 0-2 Italy

Mancini 88 (I), Pio Esposito 92 (I)

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