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Matteo Pessina came off the bench for Italy to score an all important goal at Euro 2020 and all anyone could talk about was his faceplant celebration.
Pessina and Federico Chiesa were both winning substitutes for Roberto Mancini, as Italy booked their place in the quarter finals with a win over Austria.
The Azzurri needed extra time to get their win and, after Chiesa opened the scoring, Pessina looked to have made the win certain, as he fired past Daniel Bachmann in the Austrian goal.
After scoring the all important goal, the Atalanta midfielder ran towards the corner of the pitch before falling flat on his face and sliding across the turf.
Fans absolutely loved the unconventional celebration from the 24-year-old.
Matteo Pessina being put through the checkout at Aldi.pic.twitter.com/t2MBWEM9hc
— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) June 26, 2021
This Pessina celebration is my new favourite 😂😂😂 mans just here innt #ITAAUT #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/PiQ2qLEp0l
— ranny 🇵🇹 (@ranny_ft) June 26, 2021
Pessina’s celebration was the best ever #ITAAUT #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/QalN52pVb2
— MB (@Bowx_) June 26, 2021
The problem Pessina’s got now is if he scores again, how can he possibly improve on this celebration. His entire body slides across the grass like a skimmed stone pic.twitter.com/efvDvgpca4
— Matt Zarb-Cousin (@mattzarb) June 26, 2021
It looked as if Matteo Pessina was going to replicate Marco Tardelli’s celebration…
Then he fell flat on his face.
Nevertheless, he doubles #ITA‘s lead and looks to have sealed their place in the quarter-finals of #EURO2020
📽 @BBCMOTDpic.twitter.com/vVjiVXqHQ6
— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) June 26, 2021
Can we talk about Pessina’s celebration 😂 pic.twitter.com/hb9ad0wVZI
— Prime. (@TrashTalkMVP) June 26, 2021
What a goal and what a celebration by Matteo Pessina 😂 pic.twitter.com/lr7mpxe9pv
— Matchday365 (@Matchday365) June 26, 2021
Italy impressed in the group stages and won all three games without conceding, with Pessina also scoring in the final game against Wales.
Those wins had taken them to 30 games without losing, with their past 11 games coming with clean sheets alongside them.
Mancini’s side had the better of the first half without creating anything but it was the unfancied Austrians who made more of the second 45 minutes.
Marko Arnautovic had a goal disallowed for offside by VAR whilst the same method stopped Franco Foda’s side potentially winning a penalty.
The first half of extra time was all Italy, as their substitutes made the difference and they looked certain for a place in the last eight.
Substitute Sasa Kalajdzic scored in the 114th minute to give them some hope, and stop Italy from getting their record of 12 clean sheets in-a-row, but ultimately it was all for nothing.
Featured Image Credit: BBC