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EXPERIMENTAL ITALY SUFFERED AGAINST ARMENIA
Soccerly
Oct 15 2013
Mario Balotelli came off the bench to save Italy's blushes in a 2-2
draw with Armenia which threatened to end in the hosts' first defeat
of a successful World Cup qualifying campaign on Tuesday.
Four-time champions Italy had qualified for Brazil 2014 with two
games to spare but four days after a 2-2 draw away to Denmark,
Cesare Prandelli's men looked to be heading for a first Group B
defeat until Balotelli's late leveler. Armenia, who were battling
for a possible runner-up finish, started brightly and took a shock
lead at the San Paolo.
Two minutes after pouncing on a mistake by Davide Astori, Armenia
striker Yura Movsisyan intercepted an Alberto Aquilani back pass
towards Astori to run through on goal and beat number two Italy 'keeper
Federico Marchetti. Alessandro Florenzi leveled for the hosts when he
found a gap in the Armenia defense to coolly head Lorenzo Insigne's
cross from the left past Roman Berezovskiy on 24 minutes.
A largely experimental Italy were creating plenty up front, but
leaving gaping holes at the back. Marchetti was given warning again
when Henrikh Mkhitaryan burst past Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci
only to send his effort across the face of goal and the Italy keeper
then had to smothered Aras Ozbiliz's effort.
Insigne was the first Napoli player to represent Italy at the Serie
A club's home ground in 23 years and came close to capping that
achievement with a stunning goal at the end of the half. He left his
marker behind with a cool backheel flick which he drove towards the
far post, only for his effort to go just wide, then saw a spectacular
volley go just off target.
Balotelli replaced Pablo Osvaldo ten minutes after the restart and
did well to set up Insigne, with Berezovskiy parrying the Napoli
forward's effort.
Italy's defense finally collapsed in the 70th minute when Henrikh
Mkhitaryan powered a header past Marchetti and saw the ball bounce
off the crossbar and goalline to give Armenia a 2-1 lead.
Prandelli replaced Aquilani with Giuseppe Rossi on 70 minutes to hand
the Fiorentina striker his first cap since October 2011.
Minutes later Balotelli turned on Andrea Pirlo's weighted pass from
midfield to beat Berezovskiy and hand Italy a lifeline. Balotelli sent
a rasping drive just wide of the Berezovskiy's goal on 82 minutes and
had the ball in the net minutes later after heading home Insigne's
cross, only for it to be chalked off for an infringement moments
earlier. In the final minute of injury time Balotelli had the fans
on their feet when he held off several defenders on a long run into
the area, only to see his angled shot go under Berezovskiy and inches
past the keeper's far post.
http://soccerly.com/article/soccerly/experimental-italy-suffered-against-armenia
From: Baghdasarian
Soccerly
Oct 15 2013
Mario Balotelli came off the bench to save Italy's blushes in a 2-2
draw with Armenia which threatened to end in the hosts' first defeat
of a successful World Cup qualifying campaign on Tuesday.
Four-time champions Italy had qualified for Brazil 2014 with two
games to spare but four days after a 2-2 draw away to Denmark,
Cesare Prandelli's men looked to be heading for a first Group B
defeat until Balotelli's late leveler. Armenia, who were battling
for a possible runner-up finish, started brightly and took a shock
lead at the San Paolo.
Two minutes after pouncing on a mistake by Davide Astori, Armenia
striker Yura Movsisyan intercepted an Alberto Aquilani back pass
towards Astori to run through on goal and beat number two Italy 'keeper
Federico Marchetti. Alessandro Florenzi leveled for the hosts when he
found a gap in the Armenia defense to coolly head Lorenzo Insigne's
cross from the left past Roman Berezovskiy on 24 minutes.
A largely experimental Italy were creating plenty up front, but
leaving gaping holes at the back. Marchetti was given warning again
when Henrikh Mkhitaryan burst past Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci
only to send his effort across the face of goal and the Italy keeper
then had to smothered Aras Ozbiliz's effort.
Insigne was the first Napoli player to represent Italy at the Serie
A club's home ground in 23 years and came close to capping that
achievement with a stunning goal at the end of the half. He left his
marker behind with a cool backheel flick which he drove towards the
far post, only for his effort to go just wide, then saw a spectacular
volley go just off target.
Balotelli replaced Pablo Osvaldo ten minutes after the restart and
did well to set up Insigne, with Berezovskiy parrying the Napoli
forward's effort.
Italy's defense finally collapsed in the 70th minute when Henrikh
Mkhitaryan powered a header past Marchetti and saw the ball bounce
off the crossbar and goalline to give Armenia a 2-1 lead.
Prandelli replaced Aquilani with Giuseppe Rossi on 70 minutes to hand
the Fiorentina striker his first cap since October 2011.
Minutes later Balotelli turned on Andrea Pirlo's weighted pass from
midfield to beat Berezovskiy and hand Italy a lifeline. Balotelli sent
a rasping drive just wide of the Berezovskiy's goal on 82 minutes and
had the ball in the net minutes later after heading home Insigne's
cross, only for it to be chalked off for an infringement moments
earlier. In the final minute of injury time Balotelli had the fans
on their feet when he held off several defenders on a long run into
the area, only to see his angled shot go under Berezovskiy and inches
past the keeper's far post.
http://soccerly.com/article/soccerly/experimental-italy-suffered-against-armenia
From: Baghdasarian