Italy beats Slovenia 1-0, takes control of group

Italy took full control of its European Championship qualifying group with a 1-0 win over Slovenia on Friday, as Brazilian-born midfielder Thiago Motta scored his first goal for the Azzurri

The Inter Milan stalwart found the target with an angled shot in the 73rd minute of a match in which Italy threatened throughout.
Italy moved six points clear of Slovenia and Serbia, which beat Northern Ireland 2-1 in the other group match.
Italy also came close to scoring when forward Giampaolo Pazzini muscled past two defenders to hit the post in the 23rd.
Thiago Motta was making only his second appearance with Italy, having made his debut in a friendly against Germany last month, and his presence was key since the Azzurri were missing regular midfield starter Daniele De Rossi.
Both De Rossi and forward Mario Balotelli were left off Italy's squad for breaking coach Cesare Prandelli's code of conduct.
Thiago Motta's goal was a product of a give-and-take with fullback Federico Balzaretti.
Italy had gone winless in its previous two trips to Slovenia, drawing 1-1 in 1994 and losing 1-0 in 2004, the Azzurri's only defeat in an official match en route to winning the 2006 World Cup.
Italy is still trying to regain its poise after last year's humiliating first-round elimination from the World Cup, and this victory keeps the four-time World Cup champion on the road toward recovery.
Italy had the first chance at the SRC Stozice stadium with a long, bouncing shot from Riccardo Montolivo that drew a difficult save from Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, who plays for Udinese in Italy's Serie A.
Slovenia then had a series of corners, but Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon did well to keep any of them from becoming dangerous.
After Pazzini's shot off the post, Slovenia captain Robert Koren had his squad's best chance of the half, but Buffon punched away his long, curving shot with a diving save.
In the 35th, Handanovic had trouble controlling the ball but Antonio Cassano couldn't take advantage.
With Italy's organization improving, Cassano headed to Pazzini in front of the goal in the 40th but defender Bostjan Cesare did well to get in the way.
The Azzurri also took the initiative at the start of the second half, with Cassano and Aquilani sending in successive shots from beyond the area in the 53rd—both blocked by Handanovic.
In the 56th, Zlatan Ljubijankic replaced Zlatko Dedic at forward for Slovenia and nearly scored immediately, with Buffon blocking his powerful angled attempt. But that was the final serious threat from the hosts.
Security was tight, with Italy's last qualifier against Serbia in October abandoned due to fan violence, and there were some minor problems between rival Slovenian fans before kickoff. There was also a flare lit in the stands at the start of the second half, although it was quickly extinguished.
Slovenia plays another qualifier at Northern Ireland on Tuesday, while Italy travels to Euro 2012 co-host Ukraine for a friendly.
Slovenia: Samir Handanovic, Miso Brecko (Sinisa Andelkovic, 70), Marko Suler, Bostjan Cesar, Bojan Jokic, Valter Birsa (Josip Ilicic, 75), Robert Koren, Aleksander Radosavljevic, Andraz Kirm, Zlatko Dedic (Zlatan Ljubijankic, 56), Milivoje Novakovic.
Italy: Gianluigi Buffon, Christian Maggio, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Federico Balzaretti, Riccardo Montolivo (Claudio Marchisio, 87), Thiago Motta, Alberto Aquilani, Stefano Mauri (Antonio Nocerino, 63), Antonio Cassano (Giuseppe Rossi, 75), Giampaolo Pazzini.