Aquilani leaves it late to end Italy’s 17 year winless streak against Spain: Part one
The 2006 FIFA World Cup Winners, Italy, down Current World Champions, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011, 2-1 in an international friendly at the Stadio San Nicola, Bari on Wednesday, August 10th, 2011.
A.C Milan targets, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926, while, Xabi Alonso scored the only goal for the visitors.
Cesare Prandelli fielded a strong team in his traditional 4-4-2 line-up with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giuseppe-Rossi-c15027 leading the line.
Starting line-up: 1 Buffon, 11 Maggio, 15 Ranocchia, 3 Chiellini, 4 Criscito; 5 De Rossi, 21 Pirlo, 6 http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thiago-Motta-c34897; 18 Montolivo; 10 Cassano, 22 Rossi
On the other hand, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vicente-c36001 Del Bosque started in a 4-2-3-1 setup with Fernando Torres playing as a lone front man.
Starting line-up: 1 Casillas, 2 Iraola, 4 Piquè, 3 Albiol, 17 Arbeloa; 4 Javi http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Xabi-Alonso-c37045; 20 Cazorla, 9 Torres, 21 Silva
The game took off to a breathtaking start as the hosts could have put themselves in front just four minute into the game. Cassano flicked a lovely pass towards http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Daniele-De-Rossi-c10112, who fancied a chance from 25 yards but the ball rattled
against the post to deny Gli Azzurri.
Italy dominated the early action and were rewarded with a brilliant goal from Montolivo in the 11th minute of the game. The Fiorentina man picked the ball from the left side of the midfield and surged in the box to chip
his shot over the head of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Iker-Casillas-c16815 only to find the back of the net and make it 1-0 for the hosts.
Things got even worse for the visitors as their striker, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 man.
Spain failed to control the flow of the game and certainly looked to be struggling without influential midfielder, Xavi. The hosts had a wonderful chance to double their lead just after the half hour mark, as Rossi found himself
in a one-on-one situation with Casillas but the Real Madrid shot-stopper pulled off a stunning save to deny him.
Spain slowly started finding their feet and moments later, they were awarded a penalty kick. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Giorgio-Chiellini-c14963 pulled Llorente to the ground in an aerial challenge;
only for the referee to point to the spot. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alonso-c5254 stepped up to take the spot kick and buried a powerful shot in the middle of net to make it 1-1 in the 37th minute.
Cassano came extremely close to restoring Italy’s lead just minutes later, as his fierce low shot from 12 yards was dealt with a brilliant save from the Spanish goalkeeper.
Spain made their second change of the game, as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sergio-Busquets-c33048. Italy continued their domination and created several more chances and finished the half with a 1-1 score-line.
Report Continued in Part two of the article.
Tags: