Palladino dashes Moldovan hopes

A late goal from Italy's Raffaele Palladino ended Moldova's hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Under-21 European Championship play-offs as Group 5 runners-up.

Players suspended
Despite being without Cesare Bovo, Riccardo Montolivo, Paolo Sammarco, Alberto Aquilani and Andre Lazzari through suspension, section winners Italy dominated the game but could not make the pressure count in the first half, despite a good effort from Graziano Pellè after 21 minutes and two more from Alessandro Rosina.

Late goal
Still in with an outside chance of a second-placed finish, Moldova defended resolutely, but were denied with ten minutes to go. The goalscorer in last week's 1-0 win against Slovenia, AS Livorno Calcio striker Palladino, was again the Azzurrini's match-winner, getting on the end of a fine pass from Pellè to give the Group 5 winners their eighth victory of the campaign.