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NO JOY FOR ARMENIA AS ITALY RALLY FOR NAPLES DRAW
The Star, Malaysia
Oct 15 2013
by terry daley
(Reuters) - Italy ended Armenia's hopes of progressing to next year's
World Cup with a 2-2 draw in their final Group B qualifier in Naples
on Tuesday.
Armenia twice went in front but they were pegged back by a first
international goal from Alessandro Florenzi and a Mario Balotelli
strike.
Italy booked their ticket to the finals in Brazil by topping the
group while Armenia finished second from bottom after starting the
day with an outside chance of claiming second spot and a place in
next month's playoffs.
"We started really badly with an embarrassing opening 20 minutes. Then
we raised the tempo and from then on played quite well," Italy coach
Cesare Prandelli told Rai Sport.
"Unfortunately we conceded from a corner that we gifted them and came
close to throwing everything away (but) I saw players who never gave
up and that was a positive sign."
Spartak Moscow striker Yura Movsisyan capitalised on a sloppy start
from the hosts to give Armenia a fourth-minute lead after Alberto
Aquilani had given the ball away cheaply in front of his own penalty
area.
Italy slowly took a grip of the game and in the 24th minute Napoli
forward Lorenzo Insigne, playing on his home ground, clipped a perfect
cross for Florenzi to head in.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan put Armenia back in front when he rose above
a sleepy defence at a 70th-minute corner to head powerfully past
Federico Marchetti.
Balotelli equalised six minutes later when he raced on to a perfect
through pass from Andrea Pirlo to score in stylish fashion.
The AC Milan striker then almost grabbed a wonder goal in stoppage
time, shooting just wide after charging almost the entire length of
the field and taking on the Armenia defence on his own.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez)
http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Football/2013/10/16/No-joy-for-Armenia-as-Italy-twice-come-from-behind-to-draw.aspx
The Star, Malaysia
Oct 15 2013
by terry daley
(Reuters) - Italy ended Armenia's hopes of progressing to next year's
World Cup with a 2-2 draw in their final Group B qualifier in Naples
on Tuesday.
Armenia twice went in front but they were pegged back by a first
international goal from Alessandro Florenzi and a Mario Balotelli
strike.
Italy booked their ticket to the finals in Brazil by topping the
group while Armenia finished second from bottom after starting the
day with an outside chance of claiming second spot and a place in
next month's playoffs.
"We started really badly with an embarrassing opening 20 minutes. Then
we raised the tempo and from then on played quite well," Italy coach
Cesare Prandelli told Rai Sport.
"Unfortunately we conceded from a corner that we gifted them and came
close to throwing everything away (but) I saw players who never gave
up and that was a positive sign."
Spartak Moscow striker Yura Movsisyan capitalised on a sloppy start
from the hosts to give Armenia a fourth-minute lead after Alberto
Aquilani had given the ball away cheaply in front of his own penalty
area.
Italy slowly took a grip of the game and in the 24th minute Napoli
forward Lorenzo Insigne, playing on his home ground, clipped a perfect
cross for Florenzi to head in.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan put Armenia back in front when he rose above
a sleepy defence at a 70th-minute corner to head powerfully past
Federico Marchetti.
Balotelli equalised six minutes later when he raced on to a perfect
through pass from Andrea Pirlo to score in stylish fashion.
The AC Milan striker then almost grabbed a wonder goal in stoppage
time, shooting just wide after charging almost the entire length of
the field and taking on the Armenia defence on his own.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez)
http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Football/2013/10/16/No-joy-for-Armenia-as-Italy-twice-come-from-behind-to-draw.aspx