Confederations Cup - Italy survive scare against USA

Eurosport - Tue, 16 Jun 11:20:00 2009

Italy came from behind to defeat the United States 3-1 in their opening Confederations Cup match in Pretoria, substitute Giuseppe Rossi scoring twice against a side reduced to 10 men in the first half.

FOOTBALL 2009 Condeferations Cup - Italy celebrate a goal by Giuseppe Rossi against the USA - 0

After Ricardo Clark saw red, Landon Donovan opened the scoring from the penalty spot only to see former Manchester United man Rossi come on in the second half to smash home an equaliser then add a third goal deep into injury-time, with Daniele De Rossi also on target in between.

The CONCACAF champions looked a match for world champions Italy in the first half, experienced LA Galaxy star Donovan more than a handful in the middle of the park.

He threaded through Michael Bradley of Borussia Moenchengladbach then Jozy Altidore of Villarreal, only for both to scuff across goal when they should have hit the target - and in the latter's case, scored.

There were a few tasty challenges as the sides met for the first time since a fiery game in the 2006 World Cup, during which three players including De Rossi saw red.

Another name was added to that dubious list when Ricardo Clark was sent off on 33 minutes for an ill-timed lunge on Gennaro Gattuso after losing control of the ball while tussling with Andrea Pirlo.

A minute before Donovan gave the 10 men the lead, Italy saw a goal ruled out for offside: Jonathan Bornstein put through his own goal while sliding to defend a Pirlo through-ball intended for Mauro Camoranesi, but the Azzurri midfielder was close enough to the defender to be deemed to be interfering with play.

The USA went up the field and Altidore was blocked by Giorgio Chiellini in the penalty area; Chilean referee Pablo Pozo pointed to the spot and Donovan stroked home for 1-0.

The USA defended deep in the second half, but were still a threat from set-pieces as Italy became more and more frustrated.

Rossi made the difference on 59 minutes, within only two of appearing from the bench with Riccardo Montolivo in place of Gattuso and Camoranesi.

Villarreal's America-born striker, who chose to represent his father's nation Italy over the States, won the ball in midfield and ran with it before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the goal halfway up.

Thirteen minutes later the USA again backed off as De Rossi came forward from the left - and the hard man curled a powerful shot into the bottom corner beyond the reach of the excellent Tim Howard.

DaMarcus Beasley and Sacha Kljestan appeared as the USA went looking for an equaliser, but were pegged back by a more confident Italy: the latter went closest in the 89th minute when he dipped a shot from distance just over with Gianluigi Buffon beaten.

Rossi and strike partner Luca Toni, who had subsequently also appeared from the bench, had close-range shots blocked by Howard in injury-time before Rossi scored his second and Italy's third in the fourth minute of time added on, Pirlo scooping the ball back from the by-line and the 21-year-old frontman crashing into the net on the half-volley.

Italy top the group from Brazil, who had earlier beaten Egypt, while the USA and the Africans are yet to get off the mark.

On Thursday Brazil face the US and Italy come up against Egypt.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 33 - 52 of 52

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  1. Seriously, all you anti-american commentors saying what­ an easy game it was need to close your mouth.
    -If you­ even watched the game both commentators agreed the­ Clark foul was a deserved YELLOW, not a red card.
    -The­ scorelin doesn't reflect the great way the US­ played, I can't think of anything harder than to­ play a man down from the 33rd min on against the world­ champs.
    -Altidore over-embellished the penalty, BUT IT­ WAS STILL A PENALTY. and the fact Italians/supporters­ here are complaing about diving is so ironic I forgot­ to laugh.
    -Seriously you all make me sick. I have the­ same right to be proud of my country just like everyone­ else. (Oh wasn't the US the only team that­ didn't lose to Italy last World Cup?, thought so).

    From kellz_86, on Wed 17 Jun 10:23PM

  2. The U.S. have come a long way, I don't care what­ anyone thinks. I love how people on here have such an­ anti-American sentiment about themselves. So, the most­ popular sports in America don't include football,­ a.k.a soccer. How in the heck is that America's­ fault? People make up their own mind about what product­ they enjoy and soccer just happens to be on the­ backburner here in the States. However, it doesn't­ mean that we don't respect the game, most of us at­ least. I love watching the EPL, but simply can't­ stand watching the MLS. I realize the fact that our­ national team will more than likely never reach the­ heights of nations such as Italy, Spain, Brazil, etc.,­ but that doesn't mean that they should be riduculed­ because the most popular sport in the world isn't­ that in America.

    I

    From bonom, on Wed 17 Jun 9:15PM

  3. no.50 france cameback vs italy in euro 2-1 finals, i­ wouldnt say that italy had an easy game but it wasnt­ really a hard game either, they were just frustrated­ for short period of time n looked better once they­ opened the scoring

    From ahgodwildfire, on Wed 17 Jun 6:50AM

  4. Im starting to get very upset with how these news­ articles are titled when italy is involved. "Italy­ survive a scare against the USA" SERIOUSLY?!?!? ­ Italy won that game comfortably, and even with an extra­ man they wouldve have gotten the job done because Rossi­ and De Rossi are amazing to begin with. Besides..when­ have you ever seen a team comeback against Italy? ­ NEVER. Things like that just dont happen. The­ Italians are too good. FORZA AZZURRI!!

    From FooLey07, on Wed 17 Jun 4:19AM

  5. Why do people always bring in politics and attack the­ Yanks in general when it comes to footy? Just say they­ played well in the first half, and stunk it up in the­ second and be done with it. I'm not insecure­ enough to be jealous of their nation like others on­ here.

    From Gary, on Wed 17 Jun 1:51AM

  6. Great team knows how to finish a bad game , even­­ though they was not playing in a good way but they­­ where able to take the three points , good luck ltaly­­ for the rest of the tournament .

    From dd f, on Tue 16 Jun 3:08PM

  7. Chiellini had a pretty poor game yesterday but then so­ did Zambrotta and Camoranesi, and Gilardino looked a­ puzzling inclusion. Down the right and occasionally­ down the middle, Italy looked a shambles but once­ again, Grosso worked magnificently behind the equally­ tenacious (and out of position) Iaquinta. But all­ praise must fall on the shoulders of De Rossi and­ Rossi. Even Toni did a job, albeit a sluggish effort.

    From blythesimon, on Tue 16 Jun 10:25AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    USA was much better than Italy. The score is unfair. :(

    From Calul, on Tue 16 Jun 10:14AM

  9. Who expected an easy match against the USA, does not­ know the team. It is the kind of team Italy suffers­ most, like at the world cup. After seeing Italy­ struggling against New Zealand, I was much less­ confident, but yesterday they proved at least the­ mental strength to compete at highest level. And Rossi­ proved that the world cup winning squad can be­ strengthened by younger talent, like Montolivo. Toni­ can be replaced, that's good news, at Euro 2008 it­ was not the case. Italy needs good 2nd choices for­ Cannavaro (Legrottaglie is not that good), Camoranesi­ (we lack good wingers) and Buffon.

    From Giovanni T, on Tue 16 Jun 8:35AM

  10. It always amazes me how bad Italy can play and still­ beat teams like the USA. The best comment here "­ Italy play to the skill level of their opponents"­ .....so true. Also, The USA think they can just muscle­ teams out of the way.

    Italy always seem to have to­ overcome their opponents, and the ref in their matches.­ So surprised to see the USA only get 1 red card, why is­ it that other teams think they can hack the Italians­ with impunity and get away with it, but collapse like a­ shot swan, when they get a simple body check (in­ penalty areas)and then act with indignation when they­ get some of their own medicine?

    From FRod w, on Tue 16 Jun 8:06AM

  11. DONNEY GO TO SCHOOL DUDE , LEARN HOW TO WRITE IN­ ENGLISH !
    WE WON 4 WORLD CUPS !
    WE RE DO NOT PLAY THE­ BEST FOOTBALL I KNOW

    From zorro, on Tue 16 Jun 5:06AM

  12. FORZA AZZURI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Yavor, on Tue 16 Jun 3:35AM

  13. sorry .. *neutral

    From SHANE G, on Tue 16 Jun 3:07AM

  14. nevermind USA, still a long way to go before you reach­ the top level.. gettin better tho, the first half i­ thought you had some decent play there for a while,­ after 55 mins tho, the italians were cruising!!
    Im­ English and was watching as a nutral tho my wife's­ american so i was half cheering the US,

    From SHANE G, on Tue 16 Jun 2:52AM

  15. We got smoked by Costa Rica and lucky against El­ Salvador and Honduras. Bob Bradley needs to get it in­ gear or at this rate this will be the USA's only­ action in South Africa as they'll be watching the­ World Cup. WTF is Clark doing playing for the USA?? ­ Adu, Torres that German kid Jones have got to be better­ than Clark, Beasley, Feilhaber etc. There was a time­ when we don't play Futbol/Soccer, or we're­ getting better BS wasn't old & tired. That­ time has passed.

    From MADNESS, on Tue 16 Jun 2:09AM

  16. Well done Italy, your sheer class won it for you in the­ end..I think the USA found it hard to come to terms­ with playing a lot of the match with 10 men..and looked­ inadequate in trying to defend a 1 goal lead..

    From Domenico, on Tue 16 Jun 1:12AM

  17. yeah, very excellent play by pirlo! even without kaka­ Milan will perform

    From UberGirlPrincess, on Tue 16 Jun 12:02AM

  18. DUDE! wut the hell r u talkin about? wut u just said­ has nothing to do with my comment.
    plus, that football­ sucks is ur opinion, which doesnt really count much­ since the rest of the world is playing it. football­ means everithing to millions of people, including me,­ so stop being such a @#$%

    From matteo, on Tue 16 Jun 12:00AM

  19. Jeff, I live in the US and love American sports­ (football, baseball, basketball). However,­ "soccer" remains my favorite sport. Americans­ in general don't like the sport because they never­ played it, which is understandable. In my 20 years­ here, I've converted many Americans to­ "soccer" and they are now die-hard fans of­ the sport. Try running for 90 minutes on a field,­ getting kicked, elbowed, grabbed and pushed around,­ without commercial interruptions, and I guarantee you­ that you will end up respecting football (soccer)­ players.

    From Forza Ferrari, on Mon 15 Jun 11:51PM

  20. A country only good in sports with poor dope testing­ USA.

    From iancampbell11, on Mon 15 Jun 11:39PM
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