ã Reuters

Substitute Roberto Baggio stole the show here on Tuesday as Italy beat Austria 2-1 to reach the second round after a pulsating finale saw two goals in the closing seconds. However, it proved to be a bitter-sweet victory for the Italians as they are set to lose key central defender Alessandro Nesta, who twisted knee ligaments in a collision after barely five minutes' play.

Christian Vieri opened the scoring with a 48th minute header and the Stade de France tie looked destined to end 1-0 until Baggio, who replaced Alessandro Del Piero in the 75th minute, tucked home Italy's second in the 90th minute.

Austria refused to give up and barely 60 seconds later substitute Andreas Herzog drove home a penalty after Alessandro Costacurta felled Hannes Reinmayr in the area. It was the third time running that Austria had scored in the final minute. But this time the great escape artists of France 98 failed to get out of jail. The nerve-jangling victory meant that Italy won Group B and avoided an early showdown with holders Brazil in their next match.

Italy coach Cesare Maldini said: " We deserved the result we got, we had a few chances to get more goals but overall I'm very, very happy with the way the team behaved. I think we fully deserved our qualification over the three games we've played. Now we've got a few days to rest and prepare for the second round. "

Vieri, whose fourth goal makes him the joint leading scorer with Argentina's Gabriel Batistuta, said: " There's no doubt about it, I'm definitely going through a good period of form. The important thing though was to give us the lead. " Vieri, who made way for Filippo Inzaghi, the man who set up Baggio's goal, added: " The strength of this team is that the substitutes, especially in attack, are capable of doing just as well as the people they replace. "

Baggio meanwhile paid tribute to Inzaghi for threading the ball past two defenders and goalkeeper Michael Konsel for him to sweep into an empty net. " I owe the goal to Filippo, who gave me a great pass, " Baggio said. " To come on during a match and score like that is a great feeling. " There was less ectasy though for Del Piero, who was mercilessly kicked before making way for his illustrious understudy. " The fundamental thing is that we've qualified, " Del Piero said. " It was a difficult match, because their defenders were very tough physically, sometimes too much so. "

Austria never gave up and coach Herbert Prohaska was proud of his men's performance. " We were fighting in both halves, " he said " We controlled the game fairly well, but that wasn't enough. We just didn't have the luck and the Italians defended well.  We showed that we deserved to be at these World Cup finals. But obviously it's a great sporting disappointment for us because we wanted to get to the second round. " Aside from Vieri and Baggio, Italy's other hero of the afternoon was goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca, who made two important saves in the second half as Austria threw everything at the Italian defence.

The match started with Nesta's collision with Heimo Pfeifenberger, and coach Maldini later admitted: " We're all very disappointed about it, but I think he will have to leave the team. " Captain Paolo Maldini needed attention just five minutes later after being elbowed in the face during an aerial dual with Austrian skipper Toni Polster. Italy's first chance came in the 13th minute when Del Piero dribbled through the area but neither Vieri nor Francesco Moriero could knock his deflected shot into an empty net. Austria had only a half-chance for Polster to show for their first 45 minutes but they were more impressive when they came out after the break.

However, it was Italy who took the lead when Del Piero chipped a free-kick from the left into a crowded goalmouth and Vieri rose to head home from point-blank range. Italy had to soak up the Austrian pressure for the next 20 minutes, but they could have made it 2-0 when Inzaghi led a lightning counter-attack and unselfishly put Moriero clean through. However, the winger's shot went wide of the far post but just short of the in-running Baggio. Moriero returned the favour in the 89th minute for Inzaghi but Konsel was quickly off his line to block.

But there was little the AS Roma keeper could do when Baggio worked a one-two with Inzaghi before guiding the ball home in the 90th minute. Austria hit back with Herzog's spot-kick but Baggio had the last word, scooting past three men and flicking the ball for Inzaghi, only for the Austrian defence to clear the danger.

© - AFP - 1998