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Biraghi's last-gasp goal saves Italy, relegates Poland in Nations League

JANEK SKARZYNSKI / AFP / Getty

Cristiano Biraghi's goal in stoppage time rescued Italy late Sunday against Poland, as the Azzurri's 1-0 victory kept them within reach of group leader Portugal and also relegated Jerzy Brzeczek's side into League B in the UEFA Nations League.

The victory was Italy's first in the inaugural European competition. It was also the country's first win in its last seven matches, dating back to a 2-1 friendly victory over Saudi Arabia in May.

Portugal looked set to qualify for the four-team final stage next June with a draw, but the Italians threw a wrench into those plans when substitute Kevin Lasagna's diving header redirected Lorenzo Insigne's corner into the path of a streaking Biraghi at Woljciech Szczesny's back post.

It was the 26-year-old Biraghi's first international goal in three appearances with the senior side, and he dedicated the mark to late Fiorentina teammate Davide Astori, who died suddenly of cardiac arrest in March.

"(Davide) Astori is a part of me. I dedicate my goal to him because if I'm here it is only thanks to him and all the things he taught me when we played together," Biraghi told UEFA.com's Paolo Menicucci.

Meanwhile, Azzurri manager Roberto Mancini praised his side's performance after the narrow victory, but said there's still work to be done moving forward.

"We dominated the game completely and should have scored earlier," Mancini said. "A 0-0 would have been an unfair result.

"We played very well but we can still improve a lot. In football you only need time and hard work, magicians do not exist."

With the loss, Poland's now guaranteed to finish last in the three-team Group 3, meaning the country will ply the next edition of the Nations League in League B.

However, Robert Lewandowski and Co. can still play spoiler in Group 3 this time around. If Italy vaults Portugal with a head-to-head win on Nov. 17, the Portuguese would almost certainly need to defeat Poland in the group's final match in order to progress to the competition's final stage next summer.

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