Routine Italian Job is anything but until the Austrian waltz ends
ITALY 2
Chiesa (95), (Pessina 105) AUSTRIA 1
Kalajdzic (114)
AFTER EXTRA TIME
Italy last night broke Austrian hearts with extra-time goals from substitutes Chiesa and Pessina.
The Azzurri had been the most-impressive side in the group stages, but made heavy weather of reaching the quarter-finals.
The quality of the men who came off the bench made sure they set a new national record of going 31 games without defeat.
Austria had frustrated their fancied opponents and looked the likelier winners as the game wore on.
Marko Arnautovic, who was booked after only two minutes, appeared to have given Austria the lead in the second half before VAR chalked it off.
He was his country’s main hope of breaching a defence that didn’t concede a goal during the group stage.
The 32-year-old former West Ham striker got behind the Italian’s rearguard early on, but sent his attempt over the bar.
Italy tried get a grip on the game but found it tough.
Austria goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann, who spent season 2018-19 on loan at Kilmarnock, stuck out a foot to deny Barella’s early shot.
That was an important stop but one of the few he was asked to make.
Immobile came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when a shot from outside the penalty area hit the post with the keeper beaten.
The Lazio striker hadn’t made a massive impact until then but showed the ability that got him 25 goals in Serie A last season.
Italy’s quick passing was a huge test for the Austrians. They stuck doggedly to their task, however, and made things difficult to a side that had quickly become
It was clear they hoped to frustrate Roberto Mancini’s men and then try to grab a goal on the break.
The Italy boss cut a slightly-frustrated figure at the start of the second half as looked for his men to up the tempo and find the net.
There wasn’t the sharpness he was hoping for and Austria were emboldened by keeping a clean sheet during the first 45 minutes.
Arnautovic had the ball in the net after 65 minutes with a brilliant header over the keeper from a tight angle.
His joy was short-lived when the goal was eventually ruled off by VAR, with the striker being a fraction offside as he moved towards Alaba’s headed knock-on.
That was a real let-off for the strangely subdued Italians.
Austria finished the stronger side as the game went into extra-time.
Their hopes of progressing were finally killed off when substitute Federico Chiesa used his head, left foot and right foot to fire Italy ahead.
Matteo Pessina sealed the win by smashing the ball home from close range.
Austria got a deserved consolation when Kalajdzic scored with a diving header five minutes from the end.
STAR MAN
Austria’s Marko Arnautovic kept testing the Italian defence from start to finish. He scored with a great header but was another victim of VAR.