Italy struggled against an obdurate Northern Ireland defense Friday and could only draw 0-0 in the teams' 2012 European Championship qualifier.
Giampolo Pazzini missed a chance with four minutes left in Belfast when he headed across goal and fellow substitute Giuseppi Rossi put the ball into the side netting at the far post.
Northern Ireland then went close at the other end when goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano saved Steven Davis' low shot from a counterattack.
Four-time world champion Italy leads Group C with seven points from three games, three more than third-place Northern Ireland has taken from its two matches.
After a close first half, Italy enjoyed more possession and chances in the second period.
Andrea Pirlo tested Maik Taylor with a free kick that the veteran goalkeeper dropped to gather in front of him at the post and, in the 70th, shot over the bar from close range.
Simone Pepe then hooked the ball across goal from a couple of yards out when any kind of shot on target would have likely resulted in a goal, and Taylor pushed Antonio Cassano's powerful header from the edge of the area over the bar.
Italy drew just one real save from Taylor in the first half, and that only came following a good chance for the home side in the 31st minute.
Northern Ireland's Chris Brunt struck an inswinging cross from the right toward the far post and the unmarked David Healy headed just wide.
Almost immediately after the resulting goal kick, Italy switched play to the other end and Taylor stuck out his left arm late to stop Marco Borriello's shot across him. The ball broke to Cassano, but the Sampdoria forward put the rebound past the post from the edge of the area.
Minutes later, Daniele De Rossi handled the ball in the area to push it behind, but French referee Tony Chapron missed the offense and awarded Northern Ireland a corner rather than the penalty kick the home side wanted.
Lineups:
Northern Ireland: Maik Taylor, Gareth McAuley, Aaron Hughes, Stephen Craigan, Jonny Evans, Chris Brunt (Niall McGinn, 72), Chris Baird, Steven Davis, Grant McCann (Corry Evans, 80), Warren Feeney, David Healy (Kyle Lafferty, 66).
Italy: Emiliano Viviano, Domenico Criscito, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Mattia Cassani, Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo, Stefano Mauri, Simone Pepe (Giuseppi Rossi, 84), Antonio Cassano, Marco Borriello (Giampolo Pazzini, 79).
