LONDON: Italy survived a huge scare as they scrambled past outsiders Austria into the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 with substitutes Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina scoring extra-time goals to earn them a 2-1 win at Wembley on Saturday.
The Azzurri were the standout team during a perfect group phase but Roberto Mancini’s side misfired badly as they left their Roman fortress for the first time in the tournament and looked in danger of a shock exit.
In the end the old adage that good teams find a way even when below their best was apt as Italy extended their unbeaten run to a national record of 31 games, setting up a quarter-final clash against Belgium or Portugal.
Austria, playing in the knockout phase at the Euros for the…