Italy took a giant step towards World Cup qualification by beating Bulgaria 2-0 in Turin.
Fabio Grosso opened the scoring in the 11th minute in the Group Eight match before his Juventus team-mate Vincenzo Iaquinta doubled the Azzurri's lead shortly before half-time.
The outcome sees the world champions go four points clear at the top of the group and leaves them needing just a point away to second-placed Republic of Ireland in October to go through.
Montenegro remain without a win in their qualifying campaign after letting a second-half lead slip away against Cyprus.
Captain Mirko Vucinic handed the home side a 57th-minute lead with a penalty, but Cyprus drew level seven minutes later when Ioannis Okkas netted.
Zoran Filipovic's team, like Cyprus, had seen their hopes of a surprise top-two finish disappear much earlier in the campaign so were playing for national pride.
The outcome sees the world champions go four points clear at the top of the group and leaves them needing just a point away to second-placed Republic of Ireland in October to go through.
Montenegro remain without a win in their qualifying campaign after letting a second-half lead slip away against Cyprus.
Captain Mirko Vucinic handed the home side a 57th-minute lead with a penalty, but Cyprus drew level seven minutes later when Ioannis Okkas netted.
Zoran Filipovic's team, like Cyprus, had seen their hopes of a surprise top-two finish disappear much earlier in the campaign so were playing for national pride.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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