BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Italy struggled against an obdurate Northern Ireland defense Friday and could only draw 0-0 in the teams’ 2012 European Championship qualifier.
Giampolo Pazzini missed a chance with four minutes left in Belfast when he headed across goal and fellow substitute Giuseppi Rossi put the ball into the side netting at the far post.
Four-time world champion Italy leads Group C with seven points in three games, three more than third-place Northern Ireland has taken from its two matches.
With about 10 minutes left in the first half, Daniele De Rossi handled the ball in the area to push it behind, but French referee Tony Chapron missed it and awarded Northern Ireland a corner.
