BUCHAREST -- Two opportunist first-half
goals from Filippo Inzaghi helped Italy a step closer to the
2002 World Cup finals with a 2-0 win over Romania on Saturday
that left the home side's hopes of qualifying in tatters.
Inzaghi's two strikes, the first a 28th minute deflection
off Daniel Prodan and the second a short-range header four
minutes later, lifted Italy five points clear at the top of
qualifying group eight.
A gutsy performance from Adrian Ilie in his first match back
after a two-month layoff failed to produce goals for Romania,
whose poor passing and ball control on a sodden pitch let down
many of their attacks.
The visitors exploited a weak Romanian defence, depleted by
the last-minute withdrawal of Ajax's Christian Chivu with a
cold, to create a string of chances for Inzaghi and Alessandro
Del Piero on the break.
Neither was able to convert, however, and Italy retreated
deep into their own half in the last 20 minutes as the home side
threw everything forward. But a Dennis Serban shot into the
side-netting was the closest they came to scoring.