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Scoreless draw Italy ties Lithuania 0-0, loses chance for early qualification
KAUNAS, Lithuania (AP) -- Lithuania spoiled Italy's hopes of an early qualification for the World Cup finals, holding the "Azzurri" to a goalless draw in a Group Eight match Saturday. The unbeaten Italian team (5-2-0), which leads the group with 17 points, can earn a berth in the 2002 tournament if it ties or beats Hungary in their last qualifying match on Oct. 6. Romania, second with 12 points, has two matches in hand. The draw was a bitter disappointment for Italian players and fans who had been hoping for a victory and qualification with a match to spare. Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni said Lithuania deserved the draw as it played with great determination. "I expected a tough match. The draw could be surprising for someone but not for me," Trapattoni said. "We had lot of problems against their tough, tight defense, but the performance of our team in general was not satisfactory." Italy's impressive attack, featuring Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero and Christian Vieri, was unable to produce clear scoring chances while the defense took several risks on fast counterattacks led by Edgaras Jankauskas and Ramondas Zutautas. The home team had its first chance after just one minute but Zutautas, who plays his club soccer for Maccabi Haifa, failed to control a long cross one meter from the Italian net. Del Piero, who was replaced by AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi in the second half, produced his only sparkling action in the 22nd minute but his powerful drive was deflected by keeper Gintaras Stauce past the bar. Vieri and Totti were shut out by the powerful Lithuanian defenders. Vieri managed to create one scoring opportunity in the 70th minute and head the ball in but the goal was disallowed by the referee, because the Inter strike pushed an opponent. The home team had its best chance in the 70th minute when Jankauskas beat two Italian defenders but his diagonal shot from seven meters (yards) went wide. "We did not play well. We started badly and we were unable to change our play," said captain Paolo Maldini, who played his 120th match. Lithuania, last in Group 8 and already eliminated, took its second point in seven matches.
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