Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland: Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean goals fire Azzurri into World Cup play-off final | OneFootball

Azzurri move one step closer to ending World Cup hiatus

Northern Ireland's World Cup dreams were ended by Italy as Michael O'Neill's young side fell to a 2-0 qualifying play-off semi-final defeat in Bergamo.

Kean, a constant threat throughout the night, then settled it ten minutes from time as his left-footed strike went in off the post.

As well as Northern Ireland defended, they carved out few chances of their own to score, missing the creativity of Conor Bradley and the aerial threat of Dan Ballard as injuries took their toll.

Those absentees had seen O'Neill - who has juggled preparations for this game with his job as Blackburn boss - name a side with an average age of just 22.5, Northern Ireland's second youngest post-war starting XI, with the 30-year-old Paddy McNair the only player over the age of 24.

Defeated: Northern Ireland

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As expected, Italy were quick to put Northern Ireland under pressure. Kean's early shot was deflected wide, with Tonali's header from the resulting corner looping just wide.

Pierce Charles then parried a powerful strike from Federico Dimarco and Trai Hume made a crucial block to deny Tonali a tap-in.

But as the game settled down, Northern Ireland began to grow into it. When Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori conceded a cheap corner, Justin Devenny's in-swinging cross somehow bounced inside the goal area with nobody getting a touch.

Ethan Galbraith burst forward but the Swansea man hesitated before hitting a shot which was charged down by Calafiori, with a pass to the open Price surely the better option.

Nevertheless a narrow, compact Northern Ireland were excelling at frustrating a nervous Italy side, who were struggling to carve out clear openings.

Gennaro Gattuso no doubt had strong words for his Italy players at the break and they came out fired up once again.

They were gifted a huge chance when Terry Devlin's backpass from inside the centre-circle clipped McNair, with the ball running for Mateo Retegui.

However, Spencer made a superb recovery run before Charles took a whack in collecting the ball. Moments later a fizzing shot from Kean was pushed wide by Charles.

A goal was coming. Price got a defensive head on a cross from the right but diverted it straight to Tonali, who finished with a first-time shot.

Kean went close again before Hume made his second goal-saving intervention in the 73rd minute, keeping out Esposito's header on the line.

Five minutes later Kean was unlucky to see an audacious bicycle kick go wide but then delivered the killer blow.

Tonali turned provider, lofting the ball forward, and the former Everton striker cut inside Ruairi McConville before beating Charles with a low strike.

Substitute Jamie Reid stabbed wide from a corner in stoppage time but Northern Ireland's chance had gone