Italy shot six points clear in Group C following a hard-fought 1-0 win at Slovenia in Friday s Euro 2012 qualifier, while Serbia also won.
The Azzurri had to wait until the 73rd minute for Thiago Motta to find the net, the Inter Milan midfielder ensuring Italy would leave Ljubljana a step closer to qualification to the 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine.But it could have been much worse for Cesare Prandelli s side, who might have been made to rue their profligacy after missing a couple of straightforward first-half chances.The best of those fell to Inter s Giampaolo Pazzini, whose one-timed shot at Christian Maggio s cross crashed off the upright in the 23rd minute.At the other end, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon produced a magnificent diving save to redirect Robert Koren s attempt wide of the post.Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, who plies his trade at club level with Serie A outfit Udinese, denied Riccardo Montolivo before the break and cut off shots from Stefano Mauri and Alberto Aquilani after the resumption of play to keep the hosts alive.But Italy had captured the ascendency and would not be denied, eventually finding the lead through a wonderful bit of by-play between Motta and Palermo defender Federico Balzaretti.Motta collected the ball outside the area and played himself in with a deft one-two with Balzaretti, then pummelled an unbeatable strike that rocketed past Handanovic and inside the far post.Slovenia, who had until that point in time seemed content with a draw, suddenly burst into action and might have snatched an equaliser were it not for Giorgio Chiellini, the Juventus man getting a clearing header to a dangerous free kick in the 89th minute.That was as close as Slovenia came though, and Italy were able to ride out a nervy three minutes in injury time to stay unbeaten in their qualifying campaign and improve to 13 points in Group C.Slovenia are second on the table with seven points, equal with Serbia, who stole a 2-1 victory at home over Northern Ireland.Ipswich Town defender Gareth McAuley put the visitors ahead with a 40th-minute goal, but Northern Irish hopes of a shock upset in Belgrade were put the rest in the second half by Olympiakos striker Marko Pantelic (65) and CSKA Moscow midfielder Zoran Tosic (74).Northern Ireland fall to fifth on the table with five points from four games.
