Tweet
ITALY 2-2 ARMENIA: ITALY PEG BACK ARMENIA TO FINISH UNBEATEN
UEFA.com
Oct 15 2013
Published: Tuesday 15 October 2013, 23.14CET
by Paolo Menicucci
The visitors' slim hopes of making the play-offs were scuppered in
Naples as the Azzurri twice came from behind to deny them the win.
Group B winners Italy ensured they ended 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying
unbeaten but were twice forced to come from behind to draw with
Armenia in Naples.
Armenia needed a win to keep alive their slim hopes of making
the play-offs, though Denmark's defeat of Malta was to make that
academic, and did everything they could to secure victory against
Cesare Prandelli's men, going ahead twice through Yura Movsisyan and
Henrikh Mkhitaryan. However, the hosts were able to respond on both
occasions through Alessandro Florenzi and Mario Balotelli, ending
Armenian hopes and maintaining their undefeated record.
Already qualified for next summer's finals, the Azzurri had a nightmare
start at the Stadio San Paolo as the visitors went in front after
just five minutes. After almost punishing a Davide Astori error,
Movsisyan then intercepted another poor pass by Alberto Aquilani and
beat Federico Marchetti with a low shot which tucked itself inside
the far post.
Playing in his home stadium, SSC Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne was the
inspiration for Italy and went near when his low shot from the edge
of the area cracked against the post. The diminutive forward then
chipped a cross for Florenzi who nodded his first international goal
in at the near post.
Insigne continued to pull the strings and went close twice more with
spectacular efforts, but with 70 minutes on the clock Mkhitaryan
snuck in front of Marchetti to nod in Gevorg Ghazaryan's corner and
restore Armenia's hoes. However, just six minutes later Andrea Pirlo's
superb pass allowed Balotelli to beat the goalkeeper Berezovski with a
right-footed shot. The forward almost scored the winner in added time
but his low shot, following a wonderful solo run, flashed just wide.
http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008564/postmatch/report/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
UEFA.com
Oct 15 2013
Published: Tuesday 15 October 2013, 23.14CET
by Paolo Menicucci
The visitors' slim hopes of making the play-offs were scuppered in
Naples as the Azzurri twice came from behind to deny them the win.
Group B winners Italy ensured they ended 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying
unbeaten but were twice forced to come from behind to draw with
Armenia in Naples.
Armenia needed a win to keep alive their slim hopes of making
the play-offs, though Denmark's defeat of Malta was to make that
academic, and did everything they could to secure victory against
Cesare Prandelli's men, going ahead twice through Yura Movsisyan and
Henrikh Mkhitaryan. However, the hosts were able to respond on both
occasions through Alessandro Florenzi and Mario Balotelli, ending
Armenian hopes and maintaining their undefeated record.
Already qualified for next summer's finals, the Azzurri had a nightmare
start at the Stadio San Paolo as the visitors went in front after
just five minutes. After almost punishing a Davide Astori error,
Movsisyan then intercepted another poor pass by Alberto Aquilani and
beat Federico Marchetti with a low shot which tucked itself inside
the far post.
Playing in his home stadium, SSC Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne was the
inspiration for Italy and went near when his low shot from the edge
of the area cracked against the post. The diminutive forward then
chipped a cross for Florenzi who nodded his first international goal
in at the near post.
Insigne continued to pull the strings and went close twice more with
spectacular efforts, but with 70 minutes on the clock Mkhitaryan
snuck in front of Marchetti to nod in Gevorg Ghazaryan's corner and
restore Armenia's hoes. However, just six minutes later Andrea Pirlo's
superb pass allowed Balotelli to beat the goalkeeper Berezovski with a
right-footed shot. The forward almost scored the winner in added time
but his low shot, following a wonderful solo run, flashed just wide.
http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008564/postmatch/report/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress