Big goal: Sandro Tonali
Sandro Tonali broke the deadlock with a fine strike shortly before the hour mark, capping off a period of sustained pressure from the Azzurri, before Moise Kean made the game safe ten minutes from time.
The dream of qualifying for a first World Cup in 40 years is now over for the Green and White Army as a youthful side without Conor Bradley and Dan Ballard were ultimately undone in the second half.
Meanwhile, the Azzurri, who have missed out on qualifying for the last two World Cups, will face the winners of the other semi-final from Path A; Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in next week’s final away from home.
More follows.