Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland: Tonali inspirational for Azzurri World Cup dream
Italy are through to the World Cup play-off final, as Sandro Tonali scored one and assisted another for Moise Kean to break Northern Ireland down.
The Azzurri went into this crucial match without Federico Chiesa, Mattia Zaccagni, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Gianluca Scamacca, but Alessandro Bastoni and Matteo Politano shook off knocks to start. Northern Ireland missed Ali McCann, Conor Bradley and Daniel Ballard, qualifying for the play-offs largely thanks to their Nations League results. The winners will face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final away from home on March 31.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Federico Dimarco twice tested the goalkeeper at the near post early on, including a ferocious half-volley was parried at the near post and struck Mateo Retegui.
Ethan Galbraith slipped on the counter-attack and prodded a finish straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma when he should’ve passed to Isaac Price.
Retegui’s angled drive was also charged down by Ruari McConville, while Bastoni’s header was deflected just wide off Brodie Spencer.
Moise Kean blasted high and wide from the edge of the area, while Bastoni nodded over from another corner.
Retegui’s effort was straight at the goalkeeper, then after the restart a Riccardo Calafiori hopeful attempt with his weaker right foot was deflected into the arms of Pierce Charles.
Retegui should’ve scored when he was sent clear through the middle on a Northern Ireland error, but his first touch was poor and he clattered into the goalkeeper.
Moments later, Charles got down for a great fingertip save on the Kean angled drive.
The pressure paid off, as a Politano cross was headed clear by Isaac Price to the edge of the area, where Tonali let it bounce to smash in hard and low with his right foot on the half-volley.
Federico Gatti replaced Bastoni after a yellow card, but Kean forced another save with an angled drive after running down the right.
Advantage Italy!
Sandro Tonali with a thunderous opener for the hosts #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/d85EmorpEY
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) March 26, 2026
Dimarco’s touch was too heavy as Riccardo Calafiori rolled across, but Gianluigi Donnarumma got away with a terrible pass intercepted by Donley.
Francesco Pio Esposito’s glancing header from a corner was cleared almost off the line by Hume with Calafiori ready to make sure behind him.
Kean went so close with an acrobatic overhead kick from Barella’s cross on a short corner, but it was just a warning, as moments later he made it 2-0.
Kean with number two!
Italy have one foot in the World Cup play-off final.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/7zhlfq9uGk
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) March 26, 2026
Tonali was involved again with a ball over the top, Kean controlled with his right, used the bounce to turn inside his defender and sweep the left-foot snooker shot in off the inside of the far post.
Marco Palestra made his senior debut and showed his skill with a sensational take on Dimarco’s cross, but Pio Esposito couldn’t keep it in play.
In added time, a Northern Ireland free kick ricocheted around in the six-yard box, but nobody could finish it off.
Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland
Tonali 56 (I), Kean 80 (I)
Player statistic
| Sandro Tonali | 56' | |||
| Alessandro Bastoni | 58' | |||
| Moise Kean (Assist: Sandro Tonali) |
80' |