Alberto Gilardino scored a hat-trick in the last 13 minutes as Italy fought back from two goals down to beat Cyprus 3-2 and conclude their World Cup qualifying campaign in memorable style.
Alberto Gilardino scored a hat-trick in the last 13 minutes as Italy fought back from two goals down to beat Cyprus 3-2 and conclude their World Cup qualifying campaign in memorable style.
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Italy's Alberto Gilardino celebrates after scoring during their World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in Parma last night. Pic/Getty Images |
The reigning world champions were made to work after Yiannis Okkas opened the scoring in the 12th minute and Chrysostomos Michail extended Cyprus' advantage early in the second half.
Fiorentina frontman Gilardino, whose last-gasp equaliser against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday clinched top spot in Group Eight, produced the heroics to spare Italy an embarrassing result.
He reduced the deficit 12 minutes from time, adding the equaliser three minutes later, before scoring the winner in the dying seconds.
The result means Italy finished five points clear of second-placed Ireland, who were held to a goalless draw by Montenegro in Dublin.
