Graziano Pelle's goal saves Italy's blushes in tight win

Italy moved joint top of Euro 2016 qualifying Group H thanks to a 1-0 victory over Malta in Florence.

A goal from Southampton forward Graziano Pelle midway through the second half was enough for Antonio Conte's men to move level Croatia at the top of their pool and edge closer to booking their ticket to France next summer.

Malta put up a brave fight at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in going down to their second 1-0 defeat to Italy during this qualifying campaign, with Pelle once again decisive.

Despite having named an attack-minded team, Italy coach Conte was not getting much out of his forwards as a disciplined Malta side made it hard for them to find any space.

As the minutes past, the Maltese even started to grow in confidence, and the first opening of the game was theirs with Alfred Effiong curling a shot just wide of Gianluigi Buffon's far post.

The visiting fans took plenty of pleasure in a prolonged spell of possession from their side as Italy found themselves chasing the ball on their own turf.

Eder tried to lead a reaction, dribbling three players before taking a lick of paint off the left-hand upright.

It inspired his team-mates also to give it a try, and Graziano Pelle twice went close before the first half ended at arguably the wrong time for Italy, who were finally starting to assert themselves on the game.

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

---

Five minutes into the second half, a free-kick 20 yards from goal was asking for Andrea Pirlo to provide his trademark finish, but instead he confused everybody except his own team-mates by slotting a pass through for Matteo Darmian, whose shot was blocked.

As the hour mark approached, Italy turned it up a notch with Manolo Gabbiadini curling an effort from over 25 yards against the crossbar, while there were claims for a penalty as the ball pinballed around the penalty area and struck a Malta player on his arm.

Italy finally made the breakthrough in the 69th minute when Antonio Candreva's cross was turned in from close range by Pelle, who appeared to know little about it as the ball went in off his hip.

Conte was not concerned about how the ball had gone in, though, as he celebrated wildly on the touchline.

He was nearly celebrating another goal in the 78th minute, but Malta goalkeeper Andrew Hogg managed to turn Marco Parolo's deflected shot wide at full stretch.

Malta went close to equalising through Effiong, who hit the far post, although the offside flag had already been raised.

As it was, Pelle's goal was enough as he followed up his debut strike in the reverse fixture with another goal worth three points for the Azzurri.