Juve Pair Give Italy Resounding Win
TRIESTE, Italy, March 28 (Reuters)(DS) - Juventus strikers Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero scored two goals each as Italy crushed Lithuania 4-0 on Wednesday to continue their relentless march towards the World Cup finals.
Inzaghi found the net in the 17th and 63rd minutes of the European group eight qualifier to take his international tally to four goals in five days following his double strike in Saturday's impressive 2-0 win in Romania.
Del Piero, back to his best after a difficult couple of seasons, scored with a rare header in the 49th minute and added his second 11 minutes from time following a brilliant run down the right from Vincenzo Montella.
Montella's AS Roma team mate Francesco Totti, back from suspension, created the first three goals as the Azzurri produced a superb all-round performance.
Italy, undefeated in their group, have 13 points from five matches, seven more than second-placed Hungary.
Giovanni Trapattoni's side look likely to wrap up qualification for the 2002 finals in their next two matches against Georgia and Lithuania, leaving them free to enjoy their final potentially testing home tie against the Hungarians.
"It was a great display of professionalism," Trapattoni said as his players left the pitch to warm applause from around 15,000 fans in rain-soaked Trieste.
FORCED
Lithuania, bottom of the group with just one point, came close to taking an improbable lead when Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was forced to save at the feet of striker Robertas Poskus in the fourth minute.
But the visitors rarely threatened again.
Totti stung the hands of goalkeeper Gintaras Stauce with a long range shot before setting up Inzaghi for the opening goal with a lofted through-ball from the halfway line. Inzaghi pushed the ball forward with his thigh before firing a low left foot shot across Stauce and into the far corner.
The Italians were frustrated in their bid to increase their lead for the rest of the half but Del Piero put them 2-0 up straight after the interval.
Totti swung in a free kick from the right touchline and the Lithuanian defenders stood and watched as the Juventus forward, one of the smallest men on the pitch, hurled himself at the ball and planted a firm header past Stauce.
With an hour gone and Italy enjoying one of their best spells of the match, Totti, playing in his favoured role behind the strikers, threaded a pass through the heart of the Lithuanian defence to Del Piero.
Stauce blocked his shot but Inzaghi charged in to sweep the rebound home. Inzaghi came off to a standing ovation to be replaced by Montella, who set up Del Piero's second goal of the match with a mazy run down the right flank in which he beat three defenders to reach the touchline.
Montella pulled the ball back and Del Piero scooped it into the net from close range before losing his footing on the slippery surface.
