Gilardino repeats Irish heroics

Italy 3 Cyprus 2

Alberto Gilardino scored a hat-trick in the last 13 minutes to cap a remarkable turnaround for Italy and lift them to victory over Cyprus tonight.

Gilardino, whose last-gasp equaliser against Ireland on Saturday clinched top spot in Group Eight, meant the Azzurri remained unbeaten in their World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Fiorentina striker was handed a starting berth in the familiar surroundings of Parma, where he spent three seasons, and he delivered in a big way.

Gilardino was an important member of Italy’s World Cup winning side in 2006 and his last two performances have probably secured a place in next year’s team that will travel to South Africa.

Italy were made to work after Yiannis Okkas opened the scoring in the 12th minute before Chrysostomos Michail extended Cyprus’ advantage early in the second half.

But Gilardino’s heroics saved Italy’s blushes in the final stages.

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 finish five points clear of the Republic of Ireland in Group Eight.

As expected, Italy coach Marcello Lippi made wholesale changes to his team, fielding a new starting XI from the side which claimed the 2-2 draw in Dublin.

Cyprus got off to a good start and took the lead early on. Konstantinos Makridis served Okkas inside the area and his angled effort beat Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.

Okkas should have scored his second on the 18th minute but having beaten the offside trap, he fired high over the bar from inside the area.

Italy almost equalised on the half-hour mark with Gaetano D’Agostino’s free-kick going just wide of the near post with Cyprus goalkeeper Sofronis Avgousti already beaten.

On the stroke of half-time Italy again almost restored parity but Quagliarella’s stinging drive from Gilardino’s assist went high.

Shortly after the re-start, the visitors struck again. Efstathios Aloneftis’ cross from the left found Michail inside the area and his powerful right-footed effort from close-range beat Marchetti.

The Azzurri reacted with Gennaro Gattuso warming the palms of Avgousti with a stinging drive from distance.

In the 75th minute, Avgousti made another stunning clearance from Gilardino’s close-range header, but Italy’s efforts paid off soon after.

Gilardino latched onto Mauro Camoranesi’s cross from the right before heading towards the far post where Avgousti could not reach.

Cyprus had little time to react as Gilardino hit again, anticipating his marker in the six-yard box to fire into the back of the net from Quagliarella’s assist.

The visitors surged forward and almost got back in front with 10 minutes remaining but Konstantinos Charalampidis’ strike from the distance was met by a fine save from Marchetti.

And it was the Azzurri who had the last say with Gilardino bringing the fans at the Ennio Tardini stadium to their feet.

A marked Gilardino was at full stretch to tap in Quagliarella’s cross from the right and hand the Azzurri the win.