Goals from Simone Zaza and Leonardo Bonucci gave new coach Antonio Conte victory in his first competitive game as Italy beat Norway 2-0 in a Euro 2016 Group H qualifying tie last night.

Italy took the lead in the 16th minute when Zaza’s tame shot deflected off Haavard Nortveidt, wrong-footed keeper Orjan Nyland and bounced into the net.

Norway enjoyed plenty of possession but failed to create any real clear-cut chances and Italy captain Bonucci made it 2-0 after 62 minutes, rising unmarked to power home a downward header from substitute Manuel Pasqual’s cross.

Zaza also had two excellent chances late in the game, one effort coming back off the crossbar and another being cleared off the line.

The Czech Republic snatched a last-gasp 2-1 victory over the Netherlands thanks to Vaclav Pilar’s added time goal after a dreadful mistake by Daryl Janmaat.

Defender Janmaat attempted to cushion a header back to Jasper Cillessen inside the area but it beat the Dutch keeper and struck the post only for Pilar to tuck the rebound into the net to the delight of the home fans watching the Group A clash.

The Czechs had started brightly and were rewarded in the 22nd minute when David Lafata controlled a cross into the box before laying it off to Borek Dockal whose left-foot shot slammed off the post into the net to give the hosts the lead.

The Dutch, third-place finishers at the World Cup in Brazil, responded with Stefan de Vrij driving a header into the back of the net after a cross from Daley Blind in the 55th minute but the Czechs snatched victory through Pilar after the late mix-up.

Dimitris Christofi netted a brace as Cyprus struck back to claim a 2-1 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group B.

Vedad Ibisevic gave the home side an early lead before Christofi levelled for the visitors just before the break, adding his second midway through the second half.

The hosts had the chance to clinch a late equaliser but Miralem Pjanic suffered a penalty miss as Safet Susic’s men left the Bilino Polje empty-handed.

Iceland got their qualifying campaign up and running in style with an emphatic 3-0 win at home to 10-man Turkey.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s first-half header set the hosts on their way and their task became easier when their opponents had Omer Toprak sent off for two yellow cards in five minutes soon after the break.

Two goals in three second-half minutes from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson sealed an impressive win for Iceland against one of their expected rivals for qualification from Group A.

Bale rescues Wales

Gareth Bale saved Wales from severe embarrassment in Andorra as Chris Coleman’s side began their Euro 2016 campaign with a nervous 2-1 victory.

Andorra, ranked 199th in the world and without a goal in competitive football for four years, stunned Wales inside five minutes when they were awarded a controversial penalty.

Ildefons Lima sent Wayne Hennessey the wrong way from the spot and one of football’s greatest ever upsets looked possible.

But Real Madrid star Bale, so often as he has done before, dragged Wales out of trouble and equalised with a fine header from Ben Davies’ 22nd minute cross.

Wales were living on their nerves as they chased a winner against opponents whose tackling was often rash in the extreme, but Bale settled those worries when he curled home a magnificent free-kick nine minutes from time.

Summaries

Group A

Kazakhstan 0
Latvia 0

Iceland 3
Bodvarsson 18, Sigurdsson 76, Sigthorsson 77;
Turkey 0

Red card: Toprak (T) 59.

Czech Rep. 2
Dockal 22, Pilar 90;
Netherlands 1
De Vrij 55;

Group B

Andorra 1
Lima 6 pen;
Wales 2
Bale 22, 81;

Bosnia 1
Ibisevic 6;
Cyprus 2
Christofi 45, 73;

Group H

Azerbaijan 1
Nazarov 54;
Bulgaria 2
Micanski 14, Hristov 87;

Croatia 2
Modric 46, Kramaric 81;
Malta 0

Red card: Borg (M) 31.

Norway 0
Italy 2
Zaza 16; Bonucci 62;

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