StepItaly unstoppable in Euro 2020 after beating Austria in the round of 16. However, this victory was achieved through hard struggle.
In the match that took place at Wembley Stadium, Sunday (27/6) at Midnight IST, Italy won with a score of 2-1. Even so, Roberto Mancini's side was forced into extra time by Austria.
Italy immediately controlled the game from the start of the match. Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne became the creators of the attack.
While Austria is more defensive by piling players at the back. David Alaba and his friends also did not let the Italian players control the ball comfortably around their penalty box.
This strategy has proven to be effective. Italy has difficulty dismantling Austria's defenses.
New Italy created its first golden opportunity when the game entered the 17th minute. Barella fired a shot from inside the penalty box which was still able to be driven by Daniel Bachmann under the Austrian crossbar.
Italy's best chance came in the 32nd minute. But Ciro Immobile's long-range shot hit the post.
Austria did not have a meaningful chance in the first half. The score 0-0 finally lasted until the break.
After halftime, Austria changed the game. Franco Foda's team now dares to play more attacking.
Austria almost stole a goal early in the second half. Unfortunately, Alaba's free-kick bounced just over the bar.
In the 65th minute, Austria had thrilled the Italian goal through Marco Arnautovic's header. But this goal was disallowed by VAR because the striker was first caught in a very thin offside position.
Not long after, Mancini brought on Manuel Locatelli and Matteo Pessina to change the flow of the match. However, Italy is still struggling to find the best form of the game.
Likewise with the entry of Andrea Belotti and Federico Chiesa six minutes before normal time ended. Italy remains difficult to penetrate the Austrian defense.
The scoreboard still shows the number 0-0 until the second half ends. The game had to go into extra time.
Extra time
Italy tried again to take over the game in extra time. It made Austria again depressed.
Italy was finally able to break the deadlock entering the fifth minute of extra time. Federico Chiesa was able to finish Leonardo Spinazzola's mature pass coolly to break into the Austrian goal.
The goal broke the mentality of the Austrian players. Italy was increasingly unstoppable and scored their second goal at the end of the first half of extra time through Pessina's hard kick.
Austria tried to bounce back in the second half of extra time. They were able to reduce the position through Sasa Kalajdzic's header in the 114th minute.
Kalajdzic became the first player to score against Italy at the 2020 European Cup. The rest of the match was tense.
Austria ultimately failed to equalize until the referee blew the long whistle. Italy also has the right to advance to the quarter-finals.
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