Draw leaves Italy playing catch-up

Bosnia-Herzegovina secured their first Group 3 point in the most unlikely of places as they held Italy to a 1-1 draw in Mantova which leaves the five-time winners well adrift of pacesetters Wales.

Bright start
The Azzurrini started well and took the lead after eight minutes when Guido Marilungo gave a lovely pass from midfielder Andrea Poli the finish it deserved. It looked like the start of a routine victory for the visitors but the Bosnians had not read the script and equalised with 30 minutes played when Josip Corić curled in from just inside the penalty area.

Attacking trident
Pierluigi Casiraghi's side pressed for the majority of the second half while only forcing home goalkeeper Ibrahim Šehić into action on a couple of occasions, the first to keep out an Angelo Ogbonna header after the centre-back met Mario Balotelli's corner. The No1 also denied Balotelli near the end, by which time Federico Macheda and Alberto Paloschi were playing alongside the FC Internazionale Milano forward.

Wales on top
Italy are nine points behind Wales, 2-0 victors against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday, with two games in hand. They next meet the side immediately above them, Hungary, in Gyor on 13 November.