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Oct 12 2012
Italy labour to Armenia victory
Italy laboured to a 3-1 victory over Armenia as their largely
unimpressive World Cup qualifying campaign continued.
Goals from Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi and Pablo Osvaldo saw the
Italians to the three points, while Armenia Mkhitaryan was on target
for the hosts.
Prior to the match, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said the return of
Mario Balotelli for the first time since Euro 2012 was the key to
getting his team firing, only to lose the Manchester City man once
again to a fever.
And in his absence, Italy looked short of cutting edge as they
struggled to break down their hosts and found themselves on the
backfoot for much of the match.
The early signs had been promising for Italy, with Pirlo's
fourth-minute free-kick forcing Roman Berezovsky into an excellent
save after Hrayr Mkoyan was penalised for handball.
It was from another set-piece that they took the lead in the 10th
minute, with Mkoyan yet again the villain for Armenia as he handled in
the area, earning a yellow card and conceding a penalty which Pirlo
placed in the bottom left-hand corner.
But while they had benefited from Mkoyan's overeager hands, Italy were
failing to create anything themselves, and it was Armenia who looked
the more dangerous in front of goal against a rather flat performance
from the visitors.
Aras Ozbiliz's curling free-kick forced Gianluigi Buffon into action
in the 14th minute before Artur Edigaryan and Artak Yedigaryan missed
the target with efforts from the edge of the area.
De Rossi had a chance to double Italy's lead in the 27th minute but
blazed over from close range, and it proved costly as Armenia levelled
moments later when Mkhitaryan fired in left-footed.
That at least stirred Italy into action, but Berezovsky comfortably
held Sebastian Giovinco's shot in their best opening.
Armenia continued to attack, with Ozbiliz and Robert Arzumanyan both
working Buffon before the break, while Riccardo Montolivo lashed wide
just before the break.
Giovinco blasted over from close range early in the second half, but
it was hardly a sign of a vastly improved Italian performance and
instead Armenia continued to enjoy the better of the chances.
Mkhitaryan fired wide from a good position before Davit Manoyan's
effort forced another good save from Buffon, who stretched to push it
around the post.
The Juventus veteran was less convincing in handling Ozbiliz's
58th-minute shot but did enough to keep it out.
Domenico Criscito's shot on the hour mark went wide for Italy, but
some good news was coming for Prandelli as De Rossi made up for his
earlier miss by powering in a header from Pirlo's cross in the 64th
minute.
A Pirlo corner moments later almost brought a third but Montolivo fired over.
Italy did at least look to have finally taken a grip on the game,
however, with a close-range chance from Yura Movsisyan in the 74th
minute the only other sight of goal Armenia would get.
Instead, it was Italy who prospered, and after Emanuele Giaccherini
had fired over Osvaldo headed in a third with 10 minutes to go,
getting up to meet De Rossi's cross.
http://www.espnstar.com/football/world-cup/news/detail/item872446/Italy-labour-to-Armenia-victory/
Oct 12 2012
Italy labour to Armenia victory
Italy laboured to a 3-1 victory over Armenia as their largely
unimpressive World Cup qualifying campaign continued.
Goals from Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi and Pablo Osvaldo saw the
Italians to the three points, while Armenia Mkhitaryan was on target
for the hosts.
Prior to the match, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said the return of
Mario Balotelli for the first time since Euro 2012 was the key to
getting his team firing, only to lose the Manchester City man once
again to a fever.
And in his absence, Italy looked short of cutting edge as they
struggled to break down their hosts and found themselves on the
backfoot for much of the match.
The early signs had been promising for Italy, with Pirlo's
fourth-minute free-kick forcing Roman Berezovsky into an excellent
save after Hrayr Mkoyan was penalised for handball.
It was from another set-piece that they took the lead in the 10th
minute, with Mkoyan yet again the villain for Armenia as he handled in
the area, earning a yellow card and conceding a penalty which Pirlo
placed in the bottom left-hand corner.
But while they had benefited from Mkoyan's overeager hands, Italy were
failing to create anything themselves, and it was Armenia who looked
the more dangerous in front of goal against a rather flat performance
from the visitors.
Aras Ozbiliz's curling free-kick forced Gianluigi Buffon into action
in the 14th minute before Artur Edigaryan and Artak Yedigaryan missed
the target with efforts from the edge of the area.
De Rossi had a chance to double Italy's lead in the 27th minute but
blazed over from close range, and it proved costly as Armenia levelled
moments later when Mkhitaryan fired in left-footed.
That at least stirred Italy into action, but Berezovsky comfortably
held Sebastian Giovinco's shot in their best opening.
Armenia continued to attack, with Ozbiliz and Robert Arzumanyan both
working Buffon before the break, while Riccardo Montolivo lashed wide
just before the break.
Giovinco blasted over from close range early in the second half, but
it was hardly a sign of a vastly improved Italian performance and
instead Armenia continued to enjoy the better of the chances.
Mkhitaryan fired wide from a good position before Davit Manoyan's
effort forced another good save from Buffon, who stretched to push it
around the post.
The Juventus veteran was less convincing in handling Ozbiliz's
58th-minute shot but did enough to keep it out.
Domenico Criscito's shot on the hour mark went wide for Italy, but
some good news was coming for Prandelli as De Rossi made up for his
earlier miss by powering in a header from Pirlo's cross in the 64th
minute.
A Pirlo corner moments later almost brought a third but Montolivo fired over.
Italy did at least look to have finally taken a grip on the game,
however, with a close-range chance from Yura Movsisyan in the 74th
minute the only other sight of goal Armenia would get.
Instead, it was Italy who prospered, and after Emanuele Giaccherini
had fired over Osvaldo headed in a third with 10 minutes to go,
getting up to meet De Rossi's cross.
http://www.espnstar.com/football/world-cup/news/detail/item872446/Italy-labour-to-Armenia-victory/