It was a great and dramatic game as Italy won 2-1 against a strong Mexico side. All the goals were scored in the final 15 minutes, starting with Gnonto (his third goal of this World Cup) before Udogie hit the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Italy kept fighting and believing until the end. Credit to Mexico who thought they had done enough to draw with Alvarez’s equaliser in second-half stoppage time but the Azzurrini just did enough in a crazy end to the game. A special mention to the Bologna goalkeeper Marco Molla who saved a Luna penalty in the first half before a further four important stops. Italy have made it to the knockout stages with a match to spare which will be against Paraguay on Sunday 3rd November with kick-off at 24:00 CET on Brasilia. Elsewhere in the group, Paraguay scored seven against the Solomon Islands and the result means a draw would be enough for Italy to finish top of Group F.

Carmine Nunzata stuck with the same side that started against the Solomon Islands. Italy started aggressively with a high press and had a chance in the third minute through Tongya in the third minute who missed the target from a great position. The Azzurrini were controlling the match well in midfield and moving the ball around sharply in attack. In the 13th minute, there was a chance for Gnonto who hit the ball well from a corner only for the goalkeeper to save. In the 20th minute, there was danger for Italy as the side lost the ball in its own half but Dalle Mura was able to recover and turn the ball behind for a corner which Gomez headed over. The match became increasingly open with Panada finding Gnonto in the 30th minute, the goalkeeper saved with the rebound falling to Cudrig but Garcia saved again with his feet.  In the 33rd minute, the Peruvian referee Haro awarded Mexico with a penalty for a trailing elbow from Ruggeri which caught Gomez following a VAR review. Luna stepped up to take it but the Italian goalkeeper dived to left to save. Before the break, Gomez set up Luna but Molla made a second miraculous stop to keep it goalless.

In the second half, the tempo stayed high with chances at both ends. The deadlock was finally broken in the 74th minute, Udogie played the ball to Gnonto who went on a long run with the Mexican defence backing off before picking out the near post. It seemed over but the Mexicans equalised in the second minute of stoppage time after five were awarded with Martinez finding the net. After kicking off, the substitute Oristanio played it to Udogie in the middle who got to the ball ahead of Garcia to roll home.

Mexico 1-2 Italy

Goals: 74’ Gnonto; 92' Alvarez; 94’ Udogie 

Mexico (4-4-2). Garcia, Lara, Guzman, Gomez A.(C), Martinez R.; Luna, Martinez J., Gomez J., El Mesmari (70’ Gonzales); Avila (46' Alvarez), Munoz (70’ Puente). All. Ruiz. Subs Delgado (GK), Magana (GK), Armas, Flores, Martinez, Ruiz.

Italy (4-3-2-1). Molla, Lamanna, Dalle Mura, Pirola, Ruggeri; Brentan (89’ Giovane), Panada (C), Udogie; Gnonto (84’ Boscolo), Tongya, Cudrig (70’ Oristanio). Coach Nunziata. Subs: Rinaldi (GK), Gasparini (GK), Arlotti, Barbieri, , Capone, Moretti, Riccio.

Referee: Diego Haro (PER)

Red card: Martinez. Bookings: Lamanna, Gomez, Ruggeri, Udogie, Guzman, Martinez, Alvararez, Gnonto. 

Group F Fixture List

Monday 28 October
Solomon Islands 0-5 ITALY
Paraguay 0-0 Mexico
Ranking: Italy 3 points, Paraguay and Mexico 1, Solomon Islands 0

Thursday 31 October
Solomon Islands 0-7 Paraguay
Mexico 1-2  ITALY

Sunday 3 November
ITALY vs. Paraguay (00:00 CET, Estadio Bezerrao, Brasilia)
Mexico vs. Solomon Islands (00:00 CET, Estadio Kleber Andrade, Vitoria)

Standings: Italy 6 points, Paraguay 4, Mexico 1, Solomon Islands 0

The top two teams in each group along with the best four third-placed teams will progress to the round of sixteen.