Federico Chiesa scored an extra-time goal as Italy beat Austria 2-1 in London to reach the quarter-finals of the 2002 European Championship on Saturday night.
Roberto Mancini's Italy won 11 matches in a row and remained unbeaten in their last 30 matches - and with the win set Azzurri's record at 31 - as they looked to book a spot in the quarter-finals.
Italy were the better side in the first half, but failed to find an opener with Ciro Immobile going closest on a shot from far away that hit the far post as the teams locked in a goalless draw at the break. Went to the dressing room.
Marko Anarotovic had taken Austria into the lead shortly after the hour mark, but VAR dismissed the goal for the lowest offside call and the match was goalless.
Austrian captain David Alaba swung a free kick just above the bar and it all started to get a little tough for Italy when both Xaver Schlager and Arnatovic came close.
Austria was the better side after the VAR decision, but Italy managed to prevent them from scoring and the match went into extra time.
The Azzurri had turned their way through their group games in Rome, scoring seven unanswered goals, and Mancini's side debuted in cunning fashion on a perfect night for football.
Leonardo Spinazola with a powerhouse wing down the left flank at every opportunity, Austria manager Franco Foda's pre-match claim that a 10% chance of stopping the Azzurri machine in his favor looked right.
Substitute Cheesa put Italy in front in the first two of 15 minutes of extra time, firing home from a tight angle to put Italy in a great position to advance through the round of 16.
Matteo Pessina scored Italy's second in stoppage time after beating keeper Daniel Bachmann after a Golmouth scuffle, and Austria's Sasa Kalajdzic made it a big score after leading home from a corner to cut the deficit in half.
Kalajadjic's goal ended Italy's goal that lasted 1,168 minutes without losing.
Italy will now play the winner of Sunday's match between Belgium and Portugal in their quarter-finals in Munich next Friday.