Ghedin delighted with Italy's perfect start

Italy coach Pietro Ghedin declared himself "very happy" with his team's performance after they maintained their 100% record in UEFA Women's EURO 2013 qualifying, defeating Russia 2-0 in Treviso.

Midfielder Pamela Conti struck both goals before the break, her third and fourth of the Group 1 campaign, for an Azzurrine side missing a number of key players through injury, including captain Patrizia Panico. Ksenia Tsybutovich fouled Elisa Camporese early on and Conti sent Elvira Todua the wrong way from the spot, before her left-wing cross eluded everybody and went in via the far post.

Having already beaten Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Italy are sitting pretty on a maximum nine points, three clear of Russia and Poland, as they seek a finals spot in Sweden.

"We won a difficult game, the third out of three," said Ghedin, whose charges are next in action on 19 November when they play Poland. "I'm very happy with our performance because we dominated territorially during the first 45 minutes.

"In the second half we suffered a bit due to their physical strength, but we did well and didn't give them any chances. We were missing four key players [Panico, Alia Guagni, Raffaella Manieri and Sandy Iannella] but their replacements did very well. We must continue like this because Russia are probably our biggest rivals in the group, though the game in Poland next month will be just as difficult."

Russia coach Farid Benstiti said: "I'm disappointed, not so much for losing but for the way we conceded. I wanted my team to be organised and focused but we lacked concentration. We need to do better than this and be more efficient. My players did their best. I just want my team to progress and I think we are. We are playing well but now must do so more consistently."