Italy 5-0 Lithuania: Kean shines as Azzurri set all-time record

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Italy's Moise Kean (R) competes during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification group C football match between Italy and Lithuania in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Sept. 8, 2021. (Xinhua)

Italy continued its unbeaten run as it smashed Lithuania 5-0 in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday, with starlet Giacomo Raspadori scoring his maiden goal at senior national level.

The Azzurri entered Mapei Stadium with back-to-back draws against Bulgaria and Switzerland and are unbeaten for 36 consecutive games.

Roberto Mancini made sweeping changes in the starting lineup, as Gianluigi Donnarumma stood between the sticks, Alessandro Bastoni partnered Francesco Acerbi at center back, Bryan Cristante and Matteo Pessina started in the middle of the park, while Moise Kean, Raspadori and Federico Bernardeschi formed the trident up front.

The home side broke the deadlock in the 10th minute when Arvydas Novikovas's poor back pass turned into an assist for Kean to drill home.

Italy doubled the lead four minutes later with a stroke of luck, as Raspadori's attempt took a deflection off a defender to go beyond the goalkeeper, which was credited as an own goal.

But Raspadori did get his goal in the 24th minute as Giovanni Di Lorenzo's square was blocked, the Sassuolo striker was alert to tap in the rebound.

Kean bagged his brace in the 29th minute when Bernardeschi's stunning lobbed pass found his Juve teammate who cushioned a volley into the net.

Di Lorenzo sealed the game 5-0 with a cross-shot looping into the net.

Italy led Group C with 14 points, six ahead of second-placed Switzerland who was held by Northern Ireland on Wednesday.

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