Toni treble takes Italy to the brink
Wednesday, 7 September 2005
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Luca Toni scored a hat-trick as Italy came from behind to ease past Belarus in Minsk and take a giant stride towards qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Shock opener
The ACF Fiorentina striker scored two goals in eight first-half minutes as Italy quickly recovered from conceding a fourth-minute opener to Vitali Kutuzov. Mauro Camoranesi then added the third on the cusp of half-time before Toni completed his hat-trick ten minutes after the restart. With Scotland defeating Norway in Oslo tonight, the Azzurri are now five points clear in Group 5 with two games remaining.
Immediate response
The ease with which Italy finished the game was a far cry from how they started it as some lax defending allowed Kutuzov the easiest of chances from close range. Marcello Lippi's side responded immediately and two minutes later they were level as Camoranesi fed the ball to Toni who showed great composure, controlling with his chest and slotting it in.
Totti denied
The initiative was now firmly with the visitors and Toni gave Italy the lead after 14 minutes, heading in a cross from former US Cittą di Palermo team-mate Fabio Grosso. Francesco Totti saw his free-kick well saved from Yuri Zhaunov ten minutes later but as long as only a goal separated the sides, Belarus always posed a threat.
Snap shot
Against the run of play, Valentin Belkevich almost restored parity ten minutes before the interval but his header drifted wide. That was to prove the home side's last real opportunity as Camoranesi made it 3-1 with a hopeful long-range shot just before the break.
Point required
Toni then made certain of the points with his third of the night after Zhaunov had parried Alberto Gilardino's effort into his path, meaning a draw against Slovenia on 8 October will send Italy through. Belarus travel to Scotland on the same night.
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