Lecce, Italy - A brace from Alberto Aquilani Wednesday helped Italy beat 2-1 a gritty Montenegro in a fast-paced World Cup 2010 qualifier. The world champions now have 10 points from four games and lead Group 8 ahead of Ireland, who trail on seven points after beating Cyprus 1-0 in their third game.
Andrea Dossena and Gennaro Gattuso fired wide in the first minute as the Azzurri produced a hammering start that put them in the lead on eight minutes.
Visiting goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic grabbed the ball after a dangerous goal-mouth scramble, but was beaten on the following hammering attack as he only slapped a cross from Simone Pepe to favour Aquilani's flick.
Montenegro's prompt and gritty reaction gave Elsad Zverotic a good chance on 16 minutes, but Gianluca Zambrotta managed to clear the defender's shot on the goal line.
The guests' dogged pressing was rewarded on 19 minutes through a great counter-attack feat from captain Mirko Vucinic.
The striker, a team mate of Aquilani at Roma, stormed from the midfield line and stunned Marco Amelia with a low drive a few metres inside the area as Giorgio Chiellini vainly tried to tackle him.
Two drives from Antonio Di Natale and Aquilani caused Poleksic no problems on 27 minutes, but the Azzurri took again the lead two minutes later as Aquilani fired home from a tight angle being helped by a slight deflection from a defender.
Vucinic tried to equalize with a free kick from the distance on 37 minutes and fired a far more dangerous one on 40 forcing Amelia's diving save.
A fast Zambrotta drive opened the second half before Alberto Gilardino on 50 minutes had a break blocked by the onrushing Poleksic.
On 53 minutes, it was Amelia's turn to save a dangerous break from Vucinic, who had been clumsily set up by Daniele De Rossi, and slapped a nasty shot from Stevan Jovetic that Zambrotta had slightly deflected.
De Rossi came very close on 64 minutes as he dove to nod against the post a cross from Roma team mate Aquilani. De Rossi saw Vukasin punch away his fast shot 10 minutes later and a swerving free kick with three minutes left.
The win allowed Italy coach Marcello Lippi to draw level on 30 unbeaten games with Vittorio Po
