FOOTBALL – Italy's hopes of at least making the World Cup qualifying playoffs were given a boost with a 3-1 win away to Estonia yesterday thanks to goals from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui and Francesco Pio Esposito.
Kean got Italy off to the perfect start with a fourth minute strike. Retegui had a penalty saved on the half-hour mark but made amends to double the lead seven minutes from the break.
Esposito, who replaced the injured Kean early in the game, netted the visitors’ third in the 74th but a howler from Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma allowed Rauno Sappinen to pull one back for Estonia two minutes later.
Norway top Group I with 18 points from six games. Italy have 12 points with a game in hand on their rivals and are three points clear of Israel. Estonia remain fourth on three points.
The group winners qualify for the World Cup with the runners-up going into the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Spain continued their dominant World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Georgia at Elche’s Manuel Martinez Valero stadium.
Goals from Jeremy Pino and Mikel Oyarzabal extended the European champions’ perfect run in Group E as they edge closer to securing a place at the 2026 tournament.
Pino opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a well-executed set-piece routine.
Pedri delivered a free kick from the left into the box, where defender Robin Le Normand provided an assist for Pino to finish into an empty net from close range.
The breakthrough for the second goal arrived in the 64th as Oyarzabal unleashed a stunning free kick from the edge of the box, finding the top corner and sealing the result.
The win leaves Spain top of Group E with nine points, three ahead of Turkey, while Georgia remain third with three points. Bulgaria sit bottom, having suffered three consecutive defeats.
Ruben Neves’ stoppage-time header broke Ireland’s hearts and handed Portugal a dramatic win in Lisbon after Cristiano Ronaldo was denied from the spot.
Neves rose to steer Francisco Trincao’s cross home and spare Ronaldo’s blushes after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s failure to convert from 12 yards.
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