Two crucial second-half goals finally broke down Belarus’ stubborn resistance and put Italy firmly in control of the tie. After dominating the first half without finding the net, the Azzurre secured a 2-0 win at the David Petriashvili Stadium in Tbilisi thanks to Piemonte’s 66th-minute header and Polli’s first senior international goal in the 91st minute. It was a hugely important victory for Italy, who can now approach the second leg of this opening World Cup play-off round with real confidence. The return fixture will be played in Florence on Tuesday 13 October at 18:15 CEST.

 

“This is the win we wanted, the one we worked for, and it allows us to look ahead to the next game with huge optimism,” said Soncin. “We created chances, spent a lot of time in their half and prevented them from hurting us on the break, although we can certainly be more clinical in the final third.”

The next leg of the tie comes in four days’ time at the Franchi, a stadium that holds some very special memories for the Azzurre. It was there that Italy secured qualification for the 2019 World Cup and UEFA Women’s EURO 2022. This time, the prize is a place in the second and decisive play-off round in early December against either Serbia or Finland, with the Finns having won the first leg 3-1 at home. It will be the final hurdle on the road to Brazil 2027.

THE MATCH. For the opening play-off, Soncin who was without the suspended Soffia and Caruso, named an attacking side. Bergamaschi and Oliviero joined the established pairing of Lenzini and Salvai in defence, while Greggi, Giugliano and Schatzer formed the midfield three, tasked with dictating the play. Serturini, Glionna and Piemonte made up the front line, while Giuliani wore the captain’s armband on her 111th appearance for Italy.

Belarus defended with discipline during the opening 15 minutes and managed to keep Italy at bay, but as expected the game soon became one-way traffic. Schatzer was the first to test Voskobovich, forcing the Belarus goalkeeper into a diving save with a long-range effort. In the 26th minute, Salvai went close to opening the scoring from yet another corner, only to see her close-range effort cleared off the line. Ten minutes later, a slick passing move allowed Italy to break through centrally, but Giugliano’s low drive was once again kept out by the alert Zenit goalkeeper. Despite their clear dominance and ten attempts on goal, the Azzurre were unable to find a way through and went into the break with plenty of regrets.

 

Soncin’s side were back out on the pitch early after the interval, a clear sign that they were ready to raise the tempo. Piemonte immediately passed up a good opportunity, before Greggi struck the crossbar with a 20-yard lob in the 53rd minute. Moments later, Voskobovich produced a superb save to tip Bergamaschi’s powerful right-footed effort away from the top corner.

The breakthrough took time, but it finally arrived in the 66th minute. Piemonte rose first to meet Giugliano’s corner and guided a precise header into the net to make it 1-0. In the 74th minute, another remarkable double save from the player of the match denied first Dragoni and then Lenzini. The game, which had proved more difficult than expected, was finally put to bed in the first of four minutes of added time, when substitute Polli swept home first time with her left foot to make it 2-0 and score her first senior international goal.

BELARUS 0-1 ITALY (HT 0-0)

Belarus (4-4-2): Voskobovich; Slesarchik, Sitnikava, Kozyupa, Kazakevich; Kapustina (Bohdan 45'), Belaya (Harshkova 45'), Linnik, Kavaliova (16' second half), Pratasiuk; Surovtseva (Siniauskaya 75'), Valiuk (Alkhovik 46'). Subs: Seuko, Svidunovich, Tsikhavodava, Maniukova, Charlionak, Voskobovich. Coach: Hryharau

Italy (4-3-3): Giuliani; Oliviero, Salvai, Lenzini, Bergamaschi; Giugliano (Severini 86'), Schatzer (Dragoni 62'), Greggi; Serturini (Bonansea 62'); Piemonte (Girelli 75'), Glionna (Polli 86'). Subs: Baldi, Durante, Boattin, D’Auria, Di Guglielmo, Rosucci, Cantore. Coach: Soncin

Referee: Vanderstichel (FRA). Assistant referees: Rossignol (FRA) and Boudina (FRA). Fourth official: Gerbel (FRA). Video Assistant Referee: Pignard (FRA)

Goals: 66' Piemonte (I), 91' Polli (I)

Booked: Salvai (I), Siniauskaya (B). Added time: 0' first half, 4' second half. Match played behind closed doors.

FIRST-ROUND PLAY-OFF FIRST-LEG RESULTS (9 OCTOBER)

Kazakhstan 0-8 Republic of Ireland
Israel 3-7 Switzerland
Finland 3-1 Serbia
Kosovo 1-2 Austria
Albania 0-1 Wales
Türkiye 3-3 Slovenia
Slovakia 1-3 Ukraine
Lithuania 0-5 Sweden
Belarus 0-2 ITALY
Greece 1-3 England
Croatia 0-4 Iceland
Romania 0-2 Norway
Czechia 0-2 Scotland
Hungary vs. Netherlands (20:00)
Northern Ireland vs. Portugal (20:00)
Belgium vs. Poland (20:15)

The second legs will be played on Tuesday 13 October.

SECOND-ROUND PLAY-OFF PAIRINGS

Slovakia / Ukraine vs. Greece / England
Finland / Serbia vs. Belarus / Italy
Northern Ireland / Portugal vs. Croatia / Iceland
Albania / Wales vs. Romania / Norway
Israel / Switzerland vs. Kosovo / Austria
Czechia / Scotland vs. Lithuania / Sweden
Belgium / Poland vs. Kazakhstan / Republic of Ireland
Türkiye / Slovenia vs. Hungary / Netherlands