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Italy squeezes through Del Piero comes off bench to salvage drawPosted: Thursday June 13, 2002 7:17 AMUpdated: Thursday June 13, 2002 11:42 AM
OITA, Japan (Reuters) -- Three-time champion Italy narrowly avoided joining France and Argentina on an early plane home after being outplayed by Mexico but a late Alessandro Del Piero equalizer rescued a 1-1 draw on Thursday. Jared Borgetti appeared to have sealed Mexico's first ever victory over Italy with a moment of blinding skill in the 34th minute when he glanced an angled header into the top corner of the net from a chipped pass by Cuauhtemoc Blanco. But five minutes from time, substitute Del Piero headed home from close range to rescue Italy from a dispiriting defeat and put it in the second round although Mexico finished as group G leader. The match ended in farce when both teams, knowing the result in the other game with bottom-placed Ecuador beating Croatia 1-0, played keep-ball for the four minutes of injury time. (Ecuador stuns Croatia)
Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni said: "Yes, we trembled but we are happy. There was a lot of pressure on us and from the Italian fans. "Allow me to use a phrase I often use -- justice and God exist. I believe that. When a team creates five or six chances, I reckon that deserves merit, a sack of praise. You know I'm a believer. God has answered my prayers." (Italy celebrates as funeral turns to party) A relieved Del Piero added: "If I had to say anything about the game, I'd say it was more or less okay. If we'd won I would be comfortable, but we've reached our objective of qualifying. "To come off the bench and score was fantastic, something really wonderful." His teammate Gianluca Zambrotta added: "It's not easy to come back from a goal down, it's true. But this squad never gives up. We're a great team, a great group of players and when we really get stuck in we know we can carry it through." Italy had few answers to Mexico's dazzling skills on the ball and rarely threatened Oscar Perez's goal until Del Piero's goal although, for the second game running, they had two "goals" ruled out by a linesman. Italy finished the group in second place with four points, three behind leader Mexico. It will play the winner of group D, South Korea, Portugal or the U.S. Ironically, Italy drew 1-1 with Mexico in 1994 to qualify through the group stages before losing to Brazil in the final on penalties. Mexico has never beaten Italy in 10 meetings. Italy was fighting to avoid the fate of two other pre-tournament favorites, holder France and Argentina, who both crashed out at the first stage of a competition full of upsets. The Italians started brightly and Filippo Inzaghi had a goal disallowed in the 13th minute after he had been put in by Francesco Totti.
Three minutes later Totti produced a magnificent back-heeled flick into Christian Vieri's path but the burly striker fired high and wide over the bar. Great chance Totti then missed a great chance from 10 meters out, firing wide after Inzaghi had run at the Mexican defence and slipped the ball into his path. Vieri and Totti then both had good chances to put Italy ahead before Borgetti rose above Paolo Maldini and looped his header over a stationary Gianluigi Buffon in the Italy goal after a stunning build-up for a shock Mexican opener. The Latin Americans then built on their goal and continued to play some superb, flowing football for long periods in both halves without any further reward. Five minutes after the restart Totti put Inzaghi through on goal but the Italy striker hesitated allowing Perez to push the ball away. Then the Mexicans went close to a second when Jesus Arellano saw a shot cleared off the line by Fabio Cannavaro, after a smart exchange with Blanco. Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni replaced Inzaghi with Vincenzo Montella as his side desparately sought a goal. Montella had the ball in the net after another Totti through ball, but the linesman had flagged for offside well before the substitute slotted home. Once more Totti provided an opening in the 72nd minute with a first-time pass over the top for Vieri but his touch let him down and Perez was able to clear the danger. It looked as though Italy had run out of inspiration with time running out but then Montella caused panic in the Mexican defense again, clipping over a bouncing cross for Del Piero, a 78th minute substitute, to nod in. Injury doubt Nesta starts for must-win ItalyOITA, Japan (Reuters) -- Central defender Alessandro Nesta was named in Italy's side to face Mexico in their World Cup group G decider Thursday after recovering from a foot injury. Nesta has been troubled by the problem since the defeat to Croatia last Saturday, and pulled out of Italy's last training session on Wednesday evening. However, Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni sent 12 players out to warm up 30 minutes before the 1130GMT kick-off, including Mark Iuliano, the defender most likely to replace Nesta if he breaks down again. Filippo Inzaghi will partner Christian Vieri up front, while Francesco Totti reverts to his favored playmaker's role behind the front two with pressure on him to perform as Italy aim to avoid their first group stage elimination since 1974. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre has kept faith with the starting side that beat Ecuador in the team's last group game, with Jared Borgetti again alongside Cuauhtemoc Blanco in attack. Mexico leads the group with six points and needs only a draw to reach the last 16. Italy and Croatia are second and third respectively with three points each. Ecuador, which was meeting Croatia in its last game simultaneously, is bottom on none. Score Summary:Mexico 1 Italy 1 - result World Cup, group G Scorers: Mexico - Jared Borgetti 34 Italy - Alessandro Del Piero 85 Yellow cards: Mexico - Jesus Arellano 2, Oscar Perez 84 Italy - Fabio Cannavaro 5, Christian Panucci 9, Francesco Totti 43, Gianluca Zambrotta 55, Vincenzo Montella 56 Halftime: 1-0; Attendance: 39,291 Teams:Mexico (3-5-2): 1-Oscar Perez; 5-Manuel Vidrio, 4-Rafael Marquez, 16-Salvador Carmona; 7-Ramon Morales (3-Rafael Garcia 76), 6-Gerardo Torrado, 18-Johan Rodriguez (19-Gabriel Caballero 76), 11-Braulio Luna, 21-Jesus Arellano; 9-Jared Borgetti (17-Francisco Palencia 80), 10-Cuauhtemoc Blanco Italy (4-3-1-2): 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 2-Christian Panucci (4-Francesco Coco 63), 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 13-Alessandro Nesta, 3-Paolo Maldini; 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 17-Damiano Tommasi, 6-Cristiano Zanetti; 10-Francesco Totti (7-Alessandro Del Piero 78); 9-Filippo Inzaghi (20-Vincenzo Montella 56), 21-Christian Vieri Referee : Carlos Simon (Brazil) Linesmen: Jorge Oliveira (Brazil), Mat Lazim Awang Hamat (Malaysia)
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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