Substitutes Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina struck in extra-time as Italy beat battling Austria 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 at Wembley on Saturday.
The two teams were locked at 0-0 after 90 minutes in London, with Italy enjoying the better of the first half and Austria coming back strongly in the second period.
But Chiesa made the crucial breakthrough early in extra-time and another goal from Pessina set up a quarter-final against the winners of Sunday’s tie between Belgium and holders Portugal, despite late drama.
“We knew we had to suffer because Austria are the typical side who do not allow (you) to play well,” said Italy boss Roberto Mancini.
“The substitutes made the difference for us, but everybody gave their best tonight. I’m happy because the lads gave everything to win even when we were tired.”
Having emerged as Group A winners with a 100 percent record after playing all three of their games in Rome, Italy were on the road for the first time in the tournament.
Marko Arnautovic thought he had given Austria a shock lead in the 65th minute when he nodded home from David Alaba’s header, but the former West Ham striker was ruled to be marginally offside after a lengthy VAR review.
The sides were locked at 0-0 at the end of normal time but it did not take long for Italy to make their mark in extra-time.
The impressive Spinazzola crossed from the left and Chiesa controlled the ball and rifled home with his left foot five minutes into the extra half-hour.
Italy effectively ended the tie 10 minutes later when Francesco Acerbi shepherded the ball to Pessina, who finished superbly before racing towards the corner flag and throwing himself on the turf. But there was still time for late drama when Austria’s Sasa Kalajdzic stooped to head the ball in at the near post from a corner with a little over five minutes to go.