Giorgio Chiellini rescues himself and Italy against Azerbaijan

Giorgio Chiellini went from hero to zero, and back again, as his late header rescued Italy three points from their Euro 2016 Group H qualifier in Azerbaijan tonight.

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The Juventus defender was the only name on the scoresheet as he gave the Italians a half-time lead which was cancelled out when he found his own net on 78 minutes.

However, Chiellini popped up with another at the right end to earn Italy their second successive victory of the campaign and ensure that they maintained their 100% record under new manager Antonio Conte.

Claudio Marchisio and Leonardo Bonucci were each twice denied by the busy Kamran Agayev in a first half in which the visiting keeper made five saves to keep the dominant Azzurri at bay.

Agayev's best save kept out Ciro Immobile's close-range strike, but the Azerbaijan stopper undid all of his good work when he flapped at a 44th-minute corner to allow Chiellini to head into an empty net.

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Chances continued to fall Italy's way upon the resumption of play, but Agayev responded strongly to his costly mistake to keep out Alessandro Florenzi, while Simone Zaza had a shot blocked from 10 yards.

It appeared as though Italy's inability to find a second would prevent them from closing out what was expected to be a routine victory when Chiellini bundled an Azerbaijan corner over the line on 76 minutes.

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The centre-back made amends within six minutes by powering home a header from eight yards after his Juve teammate Sebastian Giovinco had picked out his run with a delivery to the near post.

Giovinco nearly made the final moments more comfortable for Conte's men when he hit the crossbar in stoppage time, but Chiellini's eventful night ended with only his name on the scoresheet.