Italy (11) v (10) Zimbabwe

By Tim Beissmann

The Italians desperately needed a win over Zimbabwe to keep their Homeless World Cup hopes alive, and did so 11-10 in a nail-biter.

The first half was an incredible spectacle, with the two teams going goal-for-goal, neither getting more than a one goal break.

Farai Murwira did the damge for the Zimbabweans with four goals, while Maximillano Leotta and Michele Ferrente were the destroyers for the Italians.

The pace of the Zimbabweans was matched by the Italians, and the silky footskills of Italians were also equalled by their opponents in a truly passionate game of football.

When the Zimbabweans scored the first consecutive goals of the match early in the second half, it looked like they had done enough.

But last second heroics from "Max" to put the Italians in front for the first time had the stands going off.

The Zimbabweans surged forward but were beaten by the referee's whistle. In what was one of the most tense matches of the tournament, the

Italians did just enough to beat their gallant African rivals.

Photos: Photoworx