Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland result - Tonali and Kean strike to send Azzurri one game from first World Cup in 12 years

Northern Ireland’s World Cup dream ended with defeat to Italy in Bergamo as goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean earned the Azzurri a deserved win.

Michael O’Neill’s young side frustrated the hosts until the break but they struggled to create opportunities of their own and never looked likely to find a way back after falling behind in the second half.

Italy were under immense pressure to deliver a result after falling at the play-off stage during their catastrophic back-to-back failures to reach the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The four-time champions will know there is room for improvement before they travel to face Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final next Tuesday, after an incomplete performance lacking creativity.

Gennaro Gattuso’s side failed to carve out any opportunities of note to leave the Bergamo crowd unimpressed when they went in at the break but Newcastle United midfielder Tonali settled nerves when he met a headed clearance to lash a finish home from the edge of the box in the 57th minute.

The goal opened the game up and Kean looked particularly dangerous before putting the game to bed with 10 minutes remaining, bringing down a high Tonali pass, cutting inside and knocking a finish off the far post and in.

A place in Group B alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland awaits Italy if they can finish the job next week, while Northern Ireland’s wait for a first World Cup appearance since 1986 goes on.

The Northern Ireland captain has spoken to BBC Sport: "I'm disappointed. They started the game well in the first 10 minutes, we started the second half well in the first 10 minutes. We were good overall in the game. I thought we managed them well, but they had their moments and unfortunately, they took them."

On the half-time message from O'Neill: "Just try and keep it the same as what we were doing, keep frustrating them. We were breaking and creating chances but missing the final pass. The goal they scored changes the dynamic of the game."

On the fans: "It's been a dream. The fans are always out in their numbers and singing, even after a defeat. They are amazing. I couldn't speak any higher of them."

On what young team can learn: "It's obviously a disappointment, but it's a good experience to go through. You think long-term and the young team that we have, we're only going to get better. That's what I believe. Obviously, with young teams you can have that inconsistency, but it's a good experience to go through."

”It was a struggle, this was not at all easy. They even surprised us, trying to make vertical passes. We could have done better," Gattuso told RAI Sport.

"There was concentration, Locatelli went too deep, we were not developing the play properly or the way we had prepared, but we did well, and it was not to be taken for granted.

"We were too slow, Locatelli was pushed back, but we moved the ball quicker after the break, and now we have to play the final.

"It’s difficult, we knew this game was tough too, so now we must try to recharge the batteries."

”It felt like a replay of the game with Estonia in Bergamo [a 5-0 win that was 0-0 at half-time]. We didn’t create as many chances, but were against a very physical side that was dangerous on long balls, which we had suffered with recently,” Tonali told RAI Sport.

”We didn’t have many moments of quality, but we did well to make the most of them when we did.”

”There was some tension at the start of the second half, but after taking the lead, we really started to feel free of pressure with our mentality.

”We focused on not giving them their strengths, and concentrated on the set plays, so when we do that, it’s unlikely we’ll concede to this kind of team.

”We’ve been feeling positive since the coach arrived, we’ve got to continue like this, there’s no other option but to win.”

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I hear you ask. Well, I don't have an answer for you yet, as the game in Cardiff is heading to extra-time.

Daniel James' strike early in the second half had the Welsh heading for the final, only for veteran Edin Dzeko to level late on.

You can follow every kick of that one over here:

Job done for the Azzurri, with goals from Tonali and Kean in the second half earning a deserved win to send them into the play-off final.

Northern Ireland resisted bravely for 45 minutes, but ultimately didn't have the quality to keep pace. This young team can bow out with their heads held high, though.

They threaten from pinball in the box but can't hit the target, then Price's shot flies off target in a late flurry.

Italy's final change of the night sees their other goalscorer depart. Raspadori comes on in his home stadium, with the forward now plying his trade for Atalanta.

Palestra plucks a high cross out of the ball beautifully before fizzing a low ball across for Esposito, but the striker can't control it. NI look completely out of ideas now.

The Cagliari wing-back has been one of the breakthrough players of the season in Serie A, and comes on to win his first cap for Politano.

Pisilli replaces the goalscorer Tonali, who also leaves with an assist to his name. A decisive performance from the Newcastle man.

How NI need their veteran marksman to find his best form now!

Time to bring you those NI changes, which happened moments before the goal.

Is that the goal that ends the NI resistance? Kean has been a threat all night and takes his goal brilliantly, plucking a high Tonali ball out of the air, cutting inside his marker and tucking a finish off the far post and in.

Bergamo explodes and Italy are cruising now!

The Italy striker attempts the spectacular with an overhead kick and makes good contact, but it flies wide of the target.

Meanwhile, some more NI changes incoming...

Still a paper-thin margin between the two sides, for all Italy's statistical dominance.

This is where the pressure factor could tell. Can the Azzurri keep their cool and get this over the line? Or can NI expose their nerves?

The second one is dangerous, as Esposito's glancing header is cleared by Hume two yards from goal.

The third ends with Barella lashing a shot miles over the bar.

A nice combination down the left sends Dimarco haring dangerously into the box, but the wing-back's first touch lets him down and the move fizzles out.

This is a completely different game to the first half, it has completely opened up.

At the other end, there is a wobbly moment for Italy when Donnarumma makes a mess trying to play the ball out, but he's relieved to see nothing come of the error.

And it's an attacking one. Smyth on for Devlin.