Belarus 1 - 4 Italy
Kutuzov 4 (B), Toni 5, 13, 54 (I), Camoranesi 45 (I)
Luca Toni was the hat-trick hero in Minsk as Italy run out with a 4-1 win and extend their lead at the top of Group 5. With a five-point gap opening up from second-placed Norway and two games left, the Azzurri are almost certain of winning this qualifying group.
Following the 1-1 draw in Scotland and Norway's victory, Italy's lead at the top of Group Five was cut to just two points, making a win in Belarus essential. The Azzurri had to do without the suspended Gianluca Zambrotta and Daniele De Rossi, while Alessandro Del Piero was injured.
Alberto Gilardino was surprisingly dropped from the Hampden Park game as a tactical choice, but started in Minsk alongside Luca Toni with support from Francesco Totti. Fabio Grosso, who scored the decisive goal on Saturday, replaced Zambrotta at left-back. The most notable Belarus players were Sampdoria striker Vitalii Kutuzov and Arsenal's new buy Alexander Hleb.
However, it was a disastrous start for Italy, as Kutuzov sprung the offside trap and placed an angled drive past Angelo Peruzzi within the first three minutes of play. Kovba's pass found the Azzurri defence utterly static and nobody tried to close down the Sampdoria man.
Unlike the Scotland game, Lippi's men fought back immediately with Toni, who chested down Mauro German Camoranesi's chipped assist and spun round to fire in the equaliser at the near post.
It was a fiery encounter from the very beginning and moments later Totti drilled just wide of the post and at the 10th brought a tough save out of goalkeeper Zhevnov with a fierce free kick.
Toni is on fine form for Fiorentina and he proved it with his second goal of the game. Totti sparked the move and Toni's glancing header on a Grosso cross left the goalkeeper standing.
Totti unleashed another powerful set-piece that Zhevnov punched away at full stretch, as Italy were now dominating after their initial uncertainty.
There was still danger, as Hleb sprinted down the left flank and his cross caused panic in the Azzurri area.
Gilardino nodded Andrea Pirlo's corner kick wide and an impressive Totti dribbled past several players in the centre before finally being crowded out eight yards from the goal.
A Belkevich header whistled wide as Arsenal man Hleb continued to dictate the play for Belarus with his changes of pace and a powerful but central effort. Camoranesi held off a challenge and placed his chip inches wide of the far post.
The Argentine-born midfielder had been threatening and gave Italy a two-goal cushion going into the half-time break. He ran on to Totti's delicate through ball and thumped a low angled drive into the far corner of the net for his first Azzurri strike.
The second half began with another danger moment, as Bulyga burst through the centre following slips from Cristian Zaccardo and Alessandro Nesta and saw his shot deflected wide by Fabio Cannavaro's last ditch tackle.
Italy were under pressure, but struck with a classic counter-attack to take their lead to 4-1. Totti started the move and Gilardino's effort was only parried into the path of Toni's diving header for the Fiorentina star's hat-trick.
Simone Barone replaced Gilardino, switching Lippi's outfit to a 4-4-2 with Francesco Totti further up the field.Peruzzi was tested on 63 minutes, getting down well to palm away Hleb's piledriver.
Palermo defender Andrea Barzagli replaced Camoranesi for the final stages, pushing Grosso into a midfield position. It could've been 5-1 in the last couple of minutes, but Iaquinta just failed to get on the end of Pirlo's low cross.
The Azzurri were also helped by Scotland, who sensationally beat Norway in Oslo, allowing the Italians to take a five-point lead at the top of Group 5.
Belarus: Zhevnov; Omelianchuk, Yaskovich (Tarlovsky 34), Shtanuk, Kovba; Lavrik; Kulchy (Korytko 79), Belkevich, A Hleb, Bulyga; Kutuzov (V Hleb 75)
Italy: Peruzzi; Zaccardo, Nesta, Cannavaro, Grosso; Camoranesi (Barzagli 84), Pirlo, Gattuso; Totti; Gilardino (Barone 56), Toni (Iaquinta 66)
Ref: Temmink (Hol)
Football Italia