Italy beats Albania 1-0 in friendly match

Okaka headed home a corner seven minutes from time after Italy had missed a string of opportunities.

Sokol Cikalleshi had sent an effort crashing off the post in the first half for Albania.

Italy has been criticized following its 1-1 draw at home to Croatia in the European Championship qualifiers.

“We have won five out of six games and drew one,” coach Antonio Conte said. “People may sneer, it’s up to us to stay quiet and work hard. These lads want to play and to be part of the national team.”

The match was organized last month to aid the port city’s recovery from devastating flooding.

More than half the fans were Albanian, and three of them ran onto the pitch, in separate incidents, with one bowing down in front of Lorik Cana and getting the Albania captain to autograph his flag.

Conte used an experimental starting lineup, handing Emiliano Moretti and Andrea Bertolacci their debuts for Italy’s first meeting with Albania.

Alessio Cerci made his first appearance since the World Cup and had a chance in the 11th minute but his effort was saved by Albania goalkeeper Etrit Berisha at his near post following a delightful through ball from Bertolacci.

Albania went closest after an error by Lorenzo De Silvestri gifted the ball to Cikalleshi but his strike cannoned off the right upright.

Okaka was brought on and almost scored with his first touch in international football, only to be denied by another Berisha save on the line.

Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin was also introduced for his debut but it was Francesco Acerbi’s first Italy appearance that stood out. The Sassuolo defender was recently given the all-clear after a second bout of testicular cancer.

Okaka — who as a Sampdoria striker plays regularly in Genoa’s Stadio Luigi Ferraris — marked his debut with his goal from a glancing header that took a deflection off Hamdi Salihi.