LECCE, Italy, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Alberto Aquilani struck

twice to hand Group Eight leaders Italy a 2-1 win over a plucky

Montenegro in an open World Cup qualifying game on Wednesday.

Victory meant Italy boss Marcello Lippi, over his two spells

in charge, has equalled 1934 and 1938 World Cup-winning coach

Vittorio Pozzo's record of 30 games without defeat.

Midfielder Aquilani, who replaced Riccardo Montolivo in

Italy's only change from Saturday's 0-0 draw in Bulgaria, slid

home his first international goal on eight minutes after

goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic had parried Simone Pepe's cross.

Mirko Vucinic, who plays in Italy with AS Roma, brought a

talented Montenegro level following a counter attack but

Aquilani's deflected effort on the half hour put the world

champions back in front.

Italy top the group with 10 points from four games and next

travel to Montenegro in March.

"It's the second game in a few days and this Montenegro

caused us problems and have some really skilful players. We've

got three points and this is the most important thing," Lippi

told Rai TV before commenting on equalling Pozzo's record.

"I don't want any false modesty. It's fantastic."

The Azzurri made a bright start with left back Andrea

Dossena shooting wide but the visitors, who drew their first two

qualifiers, showed they are not to be underestimated and

dominated long periods of play.

Aquilani's opener from close range steadied Italy's nerves

but they were soon frayed again when Gianluca Zambrotta blocked

Elsad Zverotic's shot on the line.

Montenegro then deservedly levelled on 19 minutes when

Aquilani's club team mate Vucinic, who also used to play at

Lecce, fired in a fierce effort which keeper Marco Amelia could

only get a hand to.

Some scrappy defending from the away side then allowed

Aquilani to grab the winner, with his angled shot taking a big

deflection off defender Jovan Tanasijevic.