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Italy vs. Norway: Score and Reaction from Euro 2016 Qualifier

The win left Italy top of Group H with a two-point cushion on Norway, who they face in their final qualifier in Rome.

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Norway desperately need a win, because anything else puts them at risk of winding up out of a guaranteed place in the Euros and into the mire of the qualification playoff.

Italy came from behind to end Norway’s hopes of automatically qualifying for Euro 2016 with a 2-1 victory at the Stadio Olimpico this evening.

To their credit, Italy maintained the pressure with Pelle nodding just wide from close in on Riccardo Montolivo’s cross while Soriano was close again with a drive that Nyland pushed round the base of the far post.

Norwich City midfielder Alexander Tettey fired in the opener from the edge of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon’s area, but a second-half turnaround saw Florenzi and Pelle play the roles of heroes as Italy topped Group H unbeaten.

Earlier in the campaign, Croatia beat Norway 5-1 in Zagreb and Norway beat Croatia 2-0 in Oslo.

Robin van Persie headed home an unfortunate own goal to make it 3-0 to the visitors, though he and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice to make it 2-3 and provide a glimmer of hope for the Dutch. Norway took third place with 19 points.

An alert Florenzi nicked in to fire the loose ball into the back of the net to pull the match level.

Italy, the beaten finalists at Euro 2012, qualified for next summer’s showpiece in France thanks to a one-sided 3-1 win in Azerbaijan complete with goals from Eder, Stephan El Shaarawy and Matteo Darmian, while Graziano Pelle remained a constant threat in-front of goal too on Saturday.

The home side could have taken the lead in the opening minute when Mattia De Sciglio sent a cross in from the left to find Graziano Pelle, but he could only head his effort wide of the target.

The 25-year-old’s return to England failed to reap the dividends and he was offloaded in the summer by ex-Reds boss Brendan Rodgers back to the San Siro on a season-long loan deal. For a start, Antonio Conte does not do “relax”.

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A superb Nyland also negated efforts from Pelle and Florenzi late in the second half, before Florenzi’s equalizer arrived in the 73rd.

Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon reaches for the ball during a training session at Rome's Olympic Stadium Monday Oct. 12 2015. Italy will play Norway in a Euro 2016 soccer qualifying group H match Tuesday Oct. 13