Italy win World Cup qualifier against Georgia

Sep 10, 2008, 21:15 GMT

Udine, Italy - World champions Italy failed to shine Wednesday as they beat Georgia 2-0 in Udine in a World Cup qualifying Group 8 game thanks to a Daniele De Rossi brace.

The Roma midfielder on 17 minutes stunned Giorgi Loria from the distance drilling a smashing shot by the goalkeeper's left post and secured the win late in the game.

Loria had managed to block an earlier effort from Alberto Aquilani and watched the ball roll wide when Antonio Di Natale connected with a deep feed from his striking mate Luca Toni.

Georgia seemed unable to put together a telling reaction and on 26 minutes missed their only first-half chance as Levan Kenia fumbled from close-range a good cross from Levan Mchedlidze allowing Gianluigi Buffon to grab the ball.

The guests, who are coached by former Inter Milan and Parma coach, Argentina's Hector Cuper, tried to press harder after the break but had virtually no chance of breaking through the Italian defence.

Italy were happy with their narrow lead and lacked the grit and precision to be on target again despite the fielding of Alessandro Del Piero for Di Natale and of Vincenzo Iaquinta for a a lacklustre Toni.

The Bayern Munich striker on 66 minutes precisely fed Aquilani, who who failed to threaten as he fired from an angled position and Del Piero aimed high as he tried to top off an Angelo Palombo break.

Iaquinta also missed on 76 minutes and 82, shortly after Buffon rushed out of the area to block a dangerous spurt from Levan Kobiashvili.

The young Kenia tried again from long-range on 85 minutes finding Buffon ready to block his effort, but the guests' hopes vanished with one minute left as De Rossi laid in a precise Del Piero assist.

'It is fine like this, without shining, but with six points,' Italy coach Marcello Lippi said. 'We lost several players in incredible ways (before the game).

'We must consider that we had many incidents (to Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro Gamberini and Fabio Grosso), but we go home with two good results (after beating Cyprus 2-1 Saturday).'