Tonga stun Italy with 17-19 win

Italy 17 - 19 Tonga
Scorecard

Sonatane Takulua kicked a penalty in the final minute as Tonga registered their first victory over Italy since the 1999 World Cup on Saturday.

Prop Lorenzo Cittadini scored the first points in the game with a 12th minute try for Italy while fly-half Carlo Canna added the extras.

Tonga replacement Valentino Mapapalangi was sin-binned in the 23rd minute which Italy failed to capitalise on but scrum half Takulua scored a penalty to get his team off the mark.

Just at the stroke of half time, Sami Panico was sin-binned leaving Italy temporarily down to 14-men.

Takulua started the proceedings for Tonga in the second half with his second penalty kick but centre Siale Piutau's try in the 51st minute saw the visitors take the lead for the first time in the game.

The lead was however short lived as replacement Tommaso Allan responded with a try of his own and also converted it.

The final few minutes of the game saw Allan sin-binned and a penalty from Takulua helped Tonga get a two-point lead but fullback Edoardo Padovani's penalty in the 77th minute helped Italy reclaim the lead of one point.

Just when it looked all but over for Tonga, Takulua held his nerve and kicked his fourth penalty in the game in the 80th minute to ensure a two point win for the visitors.