Thompson stops Verratti from embarking on a dangerous counter and is shown a yellow card.
90' +1
We are into the first of three additional minutes at the end of this game.
89'
At the other end, Immobile demonstrates good movement to stay onside and latch onto a neat through ball. The Lazio striker looks to round Peacock-Farrell, but can only find the side-netting from a tight angle.
86'
We are entering the latter stages of this contest and Italy are going through the motions as the clock ticks down.
84'
M. Pessina enters the game and replaces M. Locatelli.
V. Grifo enters the game and replaces L. Insigne.
Matteo Pessina replaces Locatelli in one of two Italian changes.
Vincenzo Grifo also enters the fray, with Insigne given a well-earned rest.
82'
On a momentous day for the skipper, Davis continues to demonstrate his quality in possession as he neatly sprays the ball around to his team-mates. Should he appear in Sunday's friendly against USA, he will become the most-capped British international player outright.
78'
K. Lafferty enters the game and replaces J. Magennis.
J. Thompson enters the game and replaces A. McCann.
Kyle Lafferty also enters the action in place of Magennis.
Northern Ireland make a double-change. The first sees Jordan Thompson replacing McCann.
75'
L. Spinazzola enters the game and replaces Emerson.
F. Chiesa enters the game and replaces D. Berardi.
A double-change for the Italians. The first sees Leonardo Spinazzola replace Emerson.
Federico Chiesa is also introduced for the hosts with Berardi making way.
72'
Baraclough's men can certainly take plenty of positives from their performance here. They have just been lacking that clinical edge in the final third.
Minute
Description
68'
Good effort! Picking the ball up on the left flank, Insigne cuts inside onto his favoured right foot before unleashing a curling shot that isn't too far wide of the target.
64'
N. Barella enters the game and replaces L. Pellegrini.
S. Lavery enters the game and replaces G. Whyte.
The Irish also turn to the bench with Shayne Lavery coming on for Whyte.
A change for Italy with Nicolo Barella replacing Pellegrini.
63'
Yet again, Northern Ireland fail to make the most of a set-piece with Italy easily dealing with the delivery once more.
62'
A good chance for the visitors, who are awarded a free-kick in a good position after Pellegrini is penalised. Can they capitalise on this opportunity?
60'
Italy remain two goals to the good as we hit the hour mark at Stadio Ennio Tardini. They must be careful, though, as Northern Ireland are refusing to lie down.
58'
The hosts took their feet off the pedal for a moment there and were almost punished. That will certainly encourage the Irish as they seek a route back into the contest.
53'
Good pressure from the Irish sees them force a corner. However, the Italians deal with the delivery and but for the visitors recovering in numbers, they could have been embarking on yet another dangerous counter.
47'
G. Saville gets yellow.
Good strike! A bright start from the Irish sees the ball drop kindly for Whyte to hit on the volley. He strikes it cleanly, but it just goes the wrong side of the post.
Saville receives the first yellow card of the game after catching Florenzi with a trailing arm.
46'
G. Saville enters the game and replaces C. Evans.
The visitors make a change at the break with George Saville replacing Corry Evans.
Italy get the ball rolling again in the second half.
45'
HALF-TIME: ITALY 2-0 NORTHERN IRELAND
42'
The Irish look to respond and enjoy a neat phase of possession, but they are just unable to break down the stubborn Italians.
40'
How quickly things can change in a football match. From the chance of an equaliser at one end, the Irish find themselves two goals behind in a matter of seconds. They face an uphill battle from here.
38'
C. Immobile has scored a goal for Italy! Assist by L. Insigne.
IMMOBILE!!! 2-0 ITALY! A ruthless counter by the Italians! After dealing with a Northern Ireland attack at one end, the Azzurri double their lead within seconds thanks to a quickfire break with Insigne leading the charge. He feeds Immobile, who advances into the area before firing past Peacock-Farrell from a tight angle.
Insigne led the Italian charge before feeding Immobile, who doubled the hosts' lead.
34'
Mancini is looking to guide Italy to the World Cup finals - a tournament in which he never actually played. He was an unused squad member in 1990, while a dispute with then coach Arrigo Sacchi culminted in him missing out four years later.
30'
The hosts very much in the ascendancy as we hit the half-hour mark in Parma. Northern Ireland are not out of this yet by any means, but must stick in there to have any chance.
28'
A neat move by the Italians almost gets Berardi in behind again. However, the offside flag stops the goalscorer in his tracks.
24'
Before that, 2021 is a big year for the Italians. In June, they will host Turkey, Switzerland and Wales in the European Championship group stage. Then in October, they face Spain in the Nations League semi-finals, so plenty of silverware up for grabs.
14'
D. Berardi has scored a goal for Italy! Assist by A. Florenzi.
Florenzi demonstrated tremendous vision to pick out the run of Berardi, who had far too much time and space to race through on goal.
BERARDI!!! 1-0 ITALY! The hosts get in behind far too easily as Berardi latches onto Florenzi's long ball down the line. The forward races towards goal before sweeping the ball past Peacock-Farrell from a tight angle.
13'
Italy continue to apply the pressure and Immobile is involved again by linking the play in the box. But the offside flag comes to the visitors' rescue on this occasion.
9'
It has been a promising start by the Irish, who are awarded a free-kick in a good position. Smith floats the ball into the box, but Italy head clear.
7'
Of course, the Italians' last World Cup campaign ended in disaster as their play-off defeat by Sweden meant they failed to qualify for the 2018 finals. The Azzurri will be desperate to avoid a repeat of that four years on.
4'
A neat phase of play from the Irish sees Whyte and McCann exchange passes in the Italian box, before the former's deflected cross goes behind for a corner.
2'
The visitors look to apply early pressure with Smith launching a long throw into the box. However, Italy easily deal with it and go on the counter, before Evans tidies things up at the back.
1'
The referee blows his whistle and Northern Ireland get things underway!
Stadio Ennio Tardini - home to Serie A side Parma - is the venue for the Group C clash, as both nations launch their quest for a place at the finals in Qatar next year.
Hello everyone and welcome to live text coverage of the World Cup qualifier between Italy and Northern Ireland.
NORTHERN IRELAND (4-4-2): Bailey Peacock-Farrell; Michael Smith, Craig Cathcart, Jonny Evans, Stuart Dallas; Paddy McNair, Corry Evans, Ali McCann, Steven Davis; Gavin Whyte, Josh Magennis.
SUBS: Salvatore Sirigu, Matteo Pessina, Federico Bernardeschi, Francesco Acerbi, Nicolo Barrella, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Leonardo Spinazzola, Andrea Belotti, Vincenzo Grifo, Gianluca Mancini, Federico Chiesa, Alessio Cragno.
ITALY (4-3-3): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Alessandro Florenzi, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Emerson; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Manuel Locatelli, Marco Verratti; Domenico Berardi, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne.
SUBS: Liam Hughes, George Saville, Jordan Thompson, Danny Ballard, Shayne Lavery, Conor McLaughlin, Kyle Lafferty, Matthew Kennedy, Ciaron Brown, Niall McGinn, Shane Ferguson, Conor Hazard.
The teams are coming out onto the pitch and kick-off is moments away.
Despite the deficit, Northern Ireland have looked good in possession and refused to lie down in the contest. It will just be a case of ensuring they take any opportunity that falls their way upon the resumption of this contest.
Thank you for following our live coverage. Until next time, goodbye!
Italy are back in Group C action when they travel to Bulgaria on Sunday. The same day, Northern Ireland host USA in a friendly at Windsor Park.
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