After the Futuro started well, Caratese struck against the run of play not long before the break. Capelli crossed for Biondini who found the corner well after a nice touch. Capelli then nearly doubled the lead two minutes later, missing narrowly.
Hearts had enough chances to have won more convincingly, but their supporters greeted the full-time whistle with jubilation as they stretched their lead over Rangers and Celtic, who face each other at Ibrox on Sunday.
After what felt like 40 days and 40 nights of darkness and rain, the sun came out in Dublin. Cold, yes, and a grey day by kick-off but bright enough to throw light on an Ireland side scrambling for their footing, and a bullish Italy one looking to break new ground. Never having won a Six Nations game in Dublin might be the sort of statistic to weigh you down.
The breakthrough arrived late in the first half, when Martin Zubimendi found space outside the penalty area and struck a precise, low drive that clipped the inside of the post before nestling into the net. The timing of the goal-arriving just before halftime-shifted the dynamic significantly. Arsenal went into the break with growing confidence, while Sunderland, who had defended purposefully to that point, were left to reassess their approach.
Leeds pulled nine points clear of the Premier League relegation zone with a comprehensive win over a Nottingham Forest side now looking over their shoulders. The match was a clash between the two teams occupying the final positions of safety, perched precariously above the trap door, but it was the hosts who seized the initiative with a rousing display on a wet night at Elland Road.
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