Certainly no goalfest, but Italy’s one goal today was worth three points alone. The Azzurre overcame Georgia with a 1-0 win in Tbilisi thanks to Cristiana Girelli’s goal, and even though the performance left much to be desired, this was Italy’s second victory in the group after their debut success against Israel. The Italians’ campaign for EURO 2021 qualification continues on maximum points, a good start considering the players are still a long way off peak athletic fitness with the league season not yet begun. The players and team will improve with time, and fans will be sure to see more of the side they fell in love with at the World Cup in France earlier this year.

Italy dominated for all 95 minutes but came up short in front of goal, hitting the woodwork on three separate occasions and failing to score more goals, which could be decisive in their quest for qualification. "It was a slow game,” said Coach Milena Bertolini, “and there were too many mistakes in ball possession, we lacked clarity. They didn’t have a single chance to score, whilst we had so many, but we always looked panicked in front of goal. It’s normal to expect more against a side like this, to expect more goals, but right now it’s probably just a case of motivation which is impacting our determination.”

THE MATCH. The only change from the line-up was the inclusion of Daniela Sabatino, who came in to replace Aurora Galli and slotted in next to Cristiana Girelli up top. The Azzurre threatened down the right with Bergamaschi and Guagni’s overlapping runs, while Giacinti was a constant threat drifting inside from the left flank. As was expected, Italy completely bossed the game, and after Valentina Cernoia struck the crossbar with her free kick and Giacinti’s effort flew over, the lead arrived through a penalty in the 24th minute. Giacinti was brought down in the area and Girelli stepped up only to have her penalty saved by Gabunia, but the Azzurre taker was quick to pounce on the rebound and tapped in to score her 34th goal in the national shirt, and her second in qualifying after the one scored in Tel Aviv. Italy created a lot and wasted too much. Cernoia forced a save from Gabunia with her effort from distance, but the rebound was this time spurned by Giacinti as she headed wide of the empty net. The Azzurre were also unlucky at times, with Giugliano hitting the post with her scuffed longshot, and Giacinti also forcing a great save from Gabunia, who tipped her effort onto the bar to prevent a second for Italy.

Milena Bertolini replaced Sabatino with Serturini for the second half as Georgia continued their resolute defence right to the death, with Laura Giuliani a spectator for much of the game. However, Italy seemed slow and predictable in possession and could not find a way through. Giugliano played in Giacinti in the 69th minute, but the forward’s right-footed effort was saved well by Gabunia. Tarenzi and Rosucci then came on for Girelli and Guagni and the two substitutes got close to a second in stoppage time, but Inter’s new forward placed her shot wide from a great position. The side return home with six big points in tow from their two games, and a goal difference of +2 which could be increased as early as October, when the Azzurre fly to Malta to host Bosnia and Herzegovina in Palermo. The road ahead to EURO 2021 in England is still long.

GEORGIA 0-1 ITALY (0-1 HT)
Goals: 24’Girelli (I)

GEORGIA: Gabunia; Raukh, Kalandadze, Sutidze (Cap), Kvelidze, Pasikashvili; Todadze, Danelia, Bakradze (78’ Kadagishvili), Tckonia; Chichinadze (58’ Cheminava). A disp: Sukhashvili, Chkhartishvili, Tsotseria, Skhirtiadze, Khaburdzania, Salukvadze, Epitashvili. Coach: Levan Bajelidze.

ITALY: Giuliani; Gama (Cap), Linari, Bartoli, Guagni (88’ Rosucci); Cernoia, Giugliano, Bergamaschi; Giacinti; Sabatino (46’ Serturini), Girelli (70’ Tarenzi). A disp: Durante, Galli, Panzeri, Marinelli, Fusetti, Bonfantini, Tucceri Cimini, Caruso, Baldi. Coach: Milena Bertolini.

Referee: Vivian Peeters (NED). Assistants: Fijke Hoogendijk and Diana Snoeren. Fourth official: Sterre Bijisma.

Bookings: Danelia (G) and Gabunia (G)