Ciro Immobile and Andrea Belotti continued their impressive Italy form as they helped the Azzurri brush aside Liechtenstein 4-0. It was Belotti who opened the scoring, and got another just before the break, with Immobile getting himself on the scoresheet between the Torino man's brace. Between them, the pair have bagged seven of Italy's last nine goals as the Azzurri scored four in the first half of a match for the first time since 1987 - against Malta. Antonio Candreva grabbed Italy's other goal to keep them level on 10 points with Group G leaders Spain. Immediately, Italy set their stall out and went for the group minnows. First Immobile tried a lofted finish over Peter Jehle, though it went wide, then the goalkeeper denied Giacomo Bonaventura with a wonderful save at the back post.
Resistance was futile as Giampiero Ventura's men took a two minute two-goal lead. AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli rose above a crowded in the penalty area, and his header towards goal was poked home by Belotti just 11 minutes in. Moments later, Belotti turned provider flicking a ball through to Immobile, sending the Lazio man clear on goal, and he made no mistake in sliding the ball past Jehle. From then on it was all Italy, as they pinned their opponents back with Marco Verratti able to pick holes in the Liechtenstein backline almost at will.
It was three just after the half hour as Mattia De Sciglio waltzed unopposed into the Liechtenstein box, and his low deflected cross eventually found its way to Candreva who fired home from six yards. Then just before the break Belotti backheel-flicked a Davide Zappacosta past Jehle but it didn't count, though seconds later he made amends and put goal number four on the board. After half-time it was more of the same from the Azzurri. The wingers - Candreva and Bonaventura - were being well supported by the full-backs De Sciglio and Zappacosta, with the latter becoming increasingly dangerous as time wore on.
Daniele De Rossi volleyed just wide, and Candreva saw a couple of efforts cleared though the tempo significantly dropped in the second 45 minutes. The introduction of Lorenzo Insigne gave Italy a little more spark and he almost engineered the fifth, getting in behind Martin Rechsteiner but Belotti scuffed his shot and it trickled to Jehle in goal. Once again the Napoli man was instrumental in attack, dinking a ball across the box to Belotti, who was unmarked and has the whole goal to aim for, but he couldn't connect his header and the ball sailed wide. Zaza and Belotti both had opportunities to increase the goal tally, but poor finishing and lack of edge in front of goal will likely have frustrated Ventura.
Match Sheet:
0. Liechtenstein: Jehle; Oehri, Kaufmann, Polverino, Rechsteiner; Burgmeier, Buchel, Wieser, Buchel, Christen; Salanovic.
4. Italia: Buffon; Zappacosta, Bonucci, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Candreva (Eder, m. 74), De Rossi, Verratti, Bonaventura (Insigne, m. 67); Immobile (Immobile, m. 82), Belotti.
Goals: 0-1. Belotti (m. 11); 0-2. Immobile (m. 12); 0-3. Candreva (m. 32); 0-4. Belotti (m. 44).
Referee: Ivan Bebek (CRO). Cards: Oehri (m. 65), Kaufmann (m. 76) and Jehle (m. 83).
Stadium: Rheinpark Stadion Vaduz (Liechtenstein).
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