Italy beats Malta 2-0 in World Cup qualifying

European Championship runner-up Italy limped to an unimpressive 2-0 win over Malta in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night, getting goals from Mattia Destro in the fifth minute and Federico Peluso in second-half injury time.

Coming off a 2-2 tie at Bulgaria in Friday's opening qualifier, the Azzurri went ahead when Destro scored his first international goal.

Malta posed little threat and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was reduced to a spectator's role for much of the match.

Italy (1-0-1) leads Group B on goal difference over Bulgaria, while Malta dropped to 0-2.