Kean matches Italy record to send Azzurri 1-0 up against Bosnia and Herzegovina | OneFootball

Moise Kean delivered the first blow in the World Cup play-off final between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy in Zenica on Thursday night, applying a wonderful first-time finish to give the Azzurri a significant 1-0 advantage away from home.

Bosnia and Italy are battling it out for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica on Thursday evening.

You can follow the action as it unfolds on the Football Italia Liveblog. 

Kean sends Italy 1-0 up against Bosnia and Herzegovina

BERGAMO – MARCH 26: Moise Kean celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match against Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

It took Kean just 15 minutes to find the back of the net against Bosnia on Thursday night. Strike partner Mateo Retegui chased down opposition goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, forcing him to play the ball straight into the feet of Nicolo Barella, who tapped it square to Kean, who applied a wonderful first-time finish from the edge of the area to send Italy 1-0 up.

Kean also matched an Italy national team record with his strike in Zenica: He became only the fourth player to score in six consecutive national team appearances after Adolfo Balonceri in 1928, Gigi Riva in 1969 and Roberto Bettega in 1977.

The Fiorentina striker has netted eight times from his last six outings with the Italy national team.