 |
| |
|
 |
 |
|
|
Super-sub Del Piero helps Italy top stubborn U.S. 1-0 in Cup warmupPosted: Wednesday February 13, 2002 5:21 PMUpdated: Thursday February 14, 2002 7:39 AM
CATANIA, Sicily (AP) -- For the first half, a lively United States team kept the Italian superstars at bay, wasting several chances to score a stunning upset. "We missed an opportunity when we came out so strong," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said Then Alessandro Del Piero came on in the second half and quickly scored to lead Italy to a 1-0 victory in the World Cup warmup Wednesday night. Until then, a surprisingly offensive-minded U.S. team had dominated, even drawing cheers from many in the capacity crowd of 25,493 in this Sicilian city. "The plan was to come out and attack them and keep the high tempo," U.S. captain Claudio Reyna said. Italy, a three-time World Cup champion, is among the favorites to win this year's tournament in Japan and South Korea, while the U.S. team is seeking to improve on its last-place finish among the 32-nation field four years ago in France. If the United States advances out of its first-round group with Portugal, South Korea and Poland, the Americans are likely to play Italy in the second round on June 17.
Italy, playing the Americans for the first time since a 1-1 tie in Chicago in 1992, scored the goal 17 minutes into the second half. Massimo Marazzina, a newcomer to the national team who also had just come on, stole the ball from defender David Regis near the sideline and fed a streaking Del Piero, who tapped it in past goalkeeper Brad Friedel. The U.S. team controlled the first half, outhustling the Italians and winning challenges for the ball. The United States came close in the fifth minute when 19-year-old Landon Donovan broke away from defender Marco Materazzi and shot from just inside the box, hitting the left post with Italy goalkeeper Francesco Toldo clearly beaten. A minute later an Earnie Stewart goal was disallowed for an offside call. Just before the half ended, Donovan beat defender Fabio Cannavaro but curled his shot just high. Italian fans began booing the Azzurri and cheering the Americans' spirited play. Italy's first shot came after 35 minutes, when Christian Vieri headed wide. Vieri, considered Italy's most dangerous forward, was contained by Gregg Berhalter. Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni blamed some of his players for taking the match "as too much of a friendly." He didn't name names but pulled forwards Vieri and Francesco Totti after the first half. "In the second half we played with a different mentality, while the U.S. team faded," Trapattoni said. In the second half, the Americans lost some of their pace but still kept up the pressure. "They made four substitutions at the start of the second half and became fresher," Reyna said. "We just didn't have any solutions left." Reyna limped off with an injured left ankle, testimony to aggressive Italian tackling in the second half. John O'Brien, who came close to scoring, said, "I was able to get behind the defense several times. We just lacked the killer instinct." Security was tight, with some 500 police officers, including some in black riot gear, posted in and around Cimbali Stadium. A sign posted at one end of the stadium called the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the United States "a defeat for all humanity." The last time the Americans played in Italy was also a 1-0 win for the Azzurri, at Olympic Stadium in Rome during the first round of the 1990 World Cup. U.S. takes comfort from Italy lossWhile Juventus forward Del Piero's 62nd-minute strike gave the Azzurri the victory, the three-time world champions were pressured by the U.S. in the first half. "We were much sharper in the first half, and we had a lot of opportunities, but I learned a lot from this game," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said. "We are a good team. No team would be able to maintain that pace [due to unlimited substitutions] in a real game like that." Arena said the Italians had stolen the game when they made four halftime substitutions. "The four changes they made at half time made the difference," said Arena. "That allowed them to press and apply a lot of pressure on us. "There were many positive things for us in the game today, but it would be foolish to look at this game as a moral victory." The U.S. failed to capitalize on their advantage in the first half when they had numerous scoring opportunities, including the best chance for Landon Donovan. "I [didn't] think I was going to be in that [scoring] position," said Donovan. "I know if I knew I was going to be alone like that I would have [shot] better." The 19-year-old Donovan, making only his 15th appearance for the U.S., then began to play more of a part in the American attack. His one-two with Earnie Stewart resulted in a shot over the bar in the 35th minute, before his pass sprung John O'Brien free on the left side five minutes later as he broke through a flat Italian defense. But O'Brien's shot from an awkward angle ran wide of the right post. However Italian coach Giovanni Trappatoni then made his substitutions at half time which did not surprise Sunderland midfielder Claudio Reyna, who was making his first appearance for the U.S. since last October. "You don't come to Italy and control the first like the way we did without something happening," Reyna said. "You know those changes at halftime for them turned the game around, and I bet Trapattoni had some strong words for them at halftime. "I think we caught them a little by surprise, so we can feel good about that." Trapattoni unhappy as Italy gets too friendlyItaly's criticized his team's attitude the match. Italy was whistled and booed off the field after a dreadful first-half performance, and it was only a strike from Del Piero that gave an edge of respectability to what was a disappointing night for the capacity Sicilian crowd. "Some of the players took the match in a too friendly manner and that is not right," said Trapattoni. "We had received a great reception from the fans in Catania and we failed to repay that welcome," said the coach. Trapattoni had used the game to experiment with some new faces such as Torino midfielder Antonino Asta and Chievo Verona striker Massimo Marazzina and appeared satisfied with their contributions. Asta was substituted at the break while Marazzina came on for the second half and set up Del Piero's goal. "Asta gave an honest display during a time when we were struggling," said Trapattoni, "Marazzina brought some sparkle and shined during the second half. He did very well for the goal." The coach refused to single out which players he felt had been overly relaxed but hinted that he was unhappy with playmaker Francesco Totti. "The first half was poor in general but from a tactical point of view I was concerned that we allowed them to go three against two in midfield -- someone was covering back," said Trapattoni, declining to comment on exactly who he was referring to. But he was clearly pleased with the contribution of goalscorer Del Piero. "He showed a lot of commitment and that is what we needed. He helped us to pick things up in the second half and of course his goal was very welcome." Del Piero admitted that Italy had been clearly second best before he and three other substitutes came on for the second half. "I was surprised because the U.S. played significantly better than us in the first half," the Juventus striker said. "At the interval we talked about how we could change it and we went out and played decisively better." But with characteristic modesty he shrugged off suggestions he had been the man who made the difference. "In the second half we simply played better and they lost their way a little, it really was as simple as that."
SummaryScoring: ITA - Alessandro Del Piero (Massimo Marazzina) 62nd minute. Lineups: USA - 1-Brad Friedel; 22-Tony Sanneh (2-Frankie Hejduk, 59), 3-Greg Berrhalter, 12-Jeff Agoos, 6-David Regis; 5-John O'Brien, 14-Chris Armas, 10-Claudio Reyna (capt.)(7-Eddie Lewis, 80), 8-Earnie Stewart; 21-Landon Donovan (15-Josh Wolff, 65), 9-Joe-Max Moore (11-Jovan Kirovski, 79).
ITA - 1-Francesco Toldo; 2-Francesco Coco, 3-Mark Iuliano, 5-Fabio Cannavaro (capt.)( 13-Luigi Sartor, 82), 6-Marco Materazzi; 8-Damiano Tomassi (22-Gennarro Gattuso, 75), 7-Antonio Asta (21-Gianluca Zambrotta,46), 4-Cristiano Zanetti; 10-Francesco Totti (18-Alessandro Del Piero, 46); 9-Christian Vieri (19-Massimo Marazzina, 46), 11-Marco Di Vaio (17-Cristiano Doni, 46).
Misconduct Summary: ITA - Marco Materazzi (caution) 58th minute.
Referee: Joseph Attard (MLT)
Reuters contributed to this report. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
