Tona treble sinks Hungary
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
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Italy 3-0 Hungary
Elisabetta Tona scored all three goals as Group 2 runners-up Italy warmed up for Monday's play-off draw with a comfortable home win.
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Poaching instincts
Second place had long been secured by Italy, behind group winners Sweden, while Hungary could not finish above fifth. Patrizia Panico headed against the post from an 18th-minute Italy corner but Tona was on hand to force the loose ball home from close range, and the defender struck again just after the half-hour mark, heading home Tatiana Zorri's free-kick from the right. She showed her poaching instincts again seven minutes after the break, finishing after Zorri's thunderous free-kick had rattled the crossbar.
'More clinical'
Giorgia Motta could add a fourth with one minute to play but her powerful right foot shot struck the post. However, coach Pietro Ghedin was not too disappointed, as he awaits their decisive two-legged tie on 25/26 and 29/30 October for a place in next summer's finals in Finland. "We played in their box for the whole game so I'm satisfied with the team's performance," he said. "We could have scored more goals but we were found wanting with our final touch today. We will need to be more clinical in the play-offs."