Italy booked their spot in next summer's European Championships in France with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Azerbaijan.
Latching onto a sumptous Marco Verratti pass, Eder opened the scoring within ten minutes before Dimitrij Nazarov capatilsed on a series of inexplicable Italian errors to equalise. Conte's side restored their advantage through Stephan El Shaarawy minutes before the interval, before Matteo Darmian sealed all three points midway through the second period.
Player ratings (1-10; 1=worst, 10=best; players introduced after the 75th minute mark are awarded no rating)
'Keeper and defenders
GK - Gianluigi Buffon -- 6
The Juventus No.1 was a spectator for most of the evening and was wrong footed for the hosts' equaliser. Prompted into action on only a few occasions, Buffon's assurance between the sticks aided the Italian's fightback.
DEF - Matteo Darmian -- 7
After he was pulverised by Alexis Sanchez in Manchester United colours last weekend, the ex-Torino man yielded a performance few right-backs could rival. Though he was rarely tasked with breaking forward, Darmian remained composed defensively and struck the Azzurri's third, pilfering possession from Rashad Sadygov before rifling past a hapless Agayev.
DEF - Leonardo Bonucci -- 6
A stalwart at the heart of defence, the Italian was rarely prompted into action but would be left to rue a ill-timed header that gifted the home side a route back into the contest.
DEF - Giorgio Chiellini -- 6
Made several decisive blocks but, like his Juventus associate, was culpable for Azerbaijan's equaliser -- misjudging the flight of the ball and allowing Nazarov to ghost in-behind.
DEF - Mattia De Sciglio -- 6.5
The Milan defender rarely disappoint when he pulls on the Azzurri jersey and turned in another commendable performance. Scarcely burst forward, but remained compact defensively and granted El Shaarawy space to roam.
Midfielders and attackers
MID - Antonio Candreva -- 7.5
A bright spot throughout the qualifying campaign, the Lazio midfielder drifted in and out of proceedings but laid on El Shaarawy to restore his side's advantage. A more potent attacking force when Conte deploys a 4-3-3.
MID - Marco Verratti -- 7.5
It was his exquisite round-the-corner pass -- redolent of a certain Andrea Pirlo at the peak of powers -- that engendered Italy's opener. An indispensable member of Conte's side, the PSG midfielder pressed relentlessly in midfield and helped the visitors tick.
MID - Marco Parolo -- 7
An uncharacteristically quiet display from the ex-Parma midfielder, Parolo was diligent in midfield, though was unfortunate not to grab an assist when he dinked a delicious ball over the opposing rearguard and into the path of Graziano Pelle. Alas, the forward could not connect.
MID - Stephan El Shaarawy -- 7.5
Initially stifled by Huseynov on the left, his influence grew when he drifted inside and was the benefactor of some intelligent movement from Candreva on the opposite flank. The Italian's finish was straightforward enough, but it was just rewards for his earlier endeavour.
ATT - Graziano Pelle -- 8
A thorn in the Azerbaijan backline all evening, Pelle was conducive to Italy's victory and dovetailed immensely with the diminutive Eder. The classic big man/little man combo, his hold-up play was a joy to behold and he was unfortunate not to grab a goal of his own, linking, on one occasions, perfectly with his strike partner before drawing fingertips from the goalkeeper.
ATT - Eder -- 8.5
The pint-sized forward has been in blistering form his club this term and his positive displays certainly transcended onto the international scene here tonight. Scorer of the opener, where he broke the offside trap and finish cooly under the goalkeeper, his movement was perpetual and could have grabbed a second midway through the second period; dinking the ball over the onrushing Agayev before watching his effort being cleared off the line.
Substitutions
MID - Alessandro Florenzi -- 6
Introduced for El Shaarawy, the Roma midfielder was neat in possession though done little of note.
ATT - Sebastian Giovinco -- N/A
Back on the international scene, the Toronto FC forward showcased exactly why he has acclimatised to life in the MLS with consummate ease. A menace upon introduction, his speed prompted the dismissal of defender Sadygov before he crashed the subsequent free-kick off the bar.
MID - Ricardo Montolivo -- N/A
Making his first appearance in Azzurri colours since he suffered that horrible leg-break at Craven Cottage prior to the World Cup, the Milan midfielder did nothing of note in his brief cameo.