Aquilani leaves it late to end http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011: Part Two
Report continued from part one of the article
The second half promised to provide much more entertainment as Spain made three changes at the break. Andres Iniesta, Andoni Iraola and Casillas were replaced by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Claudio-Marchisio-c9312.
The hosts started the second half from where they left the in the first 45 minutes and dominated the early play after the break. The men in blue came extremely close to scoring another goal when Pirlo found Cassano with an inch perfect pass but the A.C Milan striker’s powerful low drive was saved down to his right by Valdes.
The hosts made a double change just before the hour mark as strikers, Cassano and Rossi made way for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giampaolo-Pazzini-c14802 respectively.
Llorente had a golden opportunity to get his team on level terms, as he lobbed a left footed shot which deflected off an Italy player and Buffon managed to scramble the ball to safety.
Prandelli made another change in the 65th minute, as De Rossi made for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alberto-Aquilani-c4313. Chiellini caught Llorente with an elbow in the head and received Italy’s first booking of the game in the 67th minute.
The game began to dry up in the middle stages of the second half as neither of the sides could get going. Spain were clearly struggling to keep hold of the possession and lacked the quality in midfield.
The hosts decided to use their remaining two substitutions after the 75th minute mark; as the goal-scorer, Montolivo, was replaced by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Leonardo-Bonucci-c22064 came in for Andrea Ranocchia in the defence.
The visitors came close to an equalizer in the 78th minute, as Silva managed to find Villa on the break, the Barcelona striker unleashed a thunderous strike, which was beautifully saved by Buffon.
Del Bosque decided to use his final substitution of the evening, as Juan Mata replaced Cazorla in the 80th minute. The change could have earned instant dividends for the visitors, as Silva found the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 midfielder in a great position but his acrobatic effort ricocheted off his own man to deny Spain a clear-cut scoring opportunity.
The World Champions were made to pay for their miss as Aquilani put the host’s front with a deflected shot to make it 2-1 in the 84th minute. Pazzini played a lovely pass into the path of the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 midfielder, whose shot from close range took a heavy deflection off a Spanish defender and found the back of the net.
La Roja did not surrender and continued their efforts to find an equalizer and nearly got one in the extra time. Mata found Silva with a lovely ball but after doing all the hard work, the Manchester City man slashed his shot over the bar.
Balotelli had a wonderful chance to kill the game in the dying of the extra time. The striker found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but played it straight into his hands.
Italy managed to hold onto a slender lead and ended their 17 year winless run against the World Champions.
Tags: