Il Capitano Alessandro Del Piero (253 Viewers)
- Thread starter Chxta
- Start date
Georgia 1 - 1 Italy Half-Time
De Rossi 16 (R), Sashiashvili 24 (G)
Tibilisi
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Italy are held 1-1 at half-time in Georgia after a Daniele De Rossi screamer, but the home side also hit the woodwork.
Donadoni was coming off his first victory on the Italy bench, but made several changes to the line-up that beat Ukraine 2-0 on Saturday. Antonio Di Natale, David Di Michele, Mauro Camoranesi, Simone Perrotta and Alessandro Nesta came in. Gennaro Gattuso was suspended and Fabio Grosso injured.
Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Cannavaro got in each other's way for an early header and the Azzurri were repeatedly caught offside by the Georgian defence, marshalled by Milan's Kakhaber Kaladze.
The breakthrough came in spectacular fashion. De Rossi, wearing the Number 10 jersey, unleashed a fierce right-foot effort from almost 30 metres that bounced mercilessly in front of the goalkeeper to slot in at the far post.
Lomaia performed an excellent save moments later on Di Natale's volley from a chipped Andrea Pirlo free kick, but it wouldn't have counted as he was offside.
There were worried faces, though, as Gianluca Zambrotta suffered a deep cut beneath his right eye and required several minutes of treatment.
Georgia grabbed a surprise equaliser with another fine strike. A set-piece was not cleared effectively and Sashiasvili drove home an unstoppable drive from the edge of the box to beat Gigi Buffon.
Pirlo's free kick was met by Nesta, whose deflected header went over the bar. Luca Toni scored a fantastic goal against the Ukraine at the weekend and nearly improved upon it. On 34 minutes he chested down the ball with his back to goal and spun roud for a half-volley that shaved the upright.
The Fiorentina hitman missed a much easier chance moments later. Zambrotta ran into the area and pulled back for Toni, who incredibly slashed his finish wide with only the goalkeeper to beat from eight yards.
De Rossi lined up another screamer, but this time Khizaneishvili was ready and rushed out to charge him down. Di Natale's cross reached Toni only for the glancing header to go wide of the target.
Yet it was Georgia who could so easily have gone into the half-time break leading 2-1. On 44 minutes Sashiasvili hit another powerful strike from 20 metres that this time cannoned off the base of the upright with Buffon motionless.
STILL NO NEWS ON DP!!!
THIS IS STRANGE
De Rossi 16 (R), Sashiashvili 24 (G)
Tibilisi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italy are held 1-1 at half-time in Georgia after a Daniele De Rossi screamer, but the home side also hit the woodwork.
Donadoni was coming off his first victory on the Italy bench, but made several changes to the line-up that beat Ukraine 2-0 on Saturday. Antonio Di Natale, David Di Michele, Mauro Camoranesi, Simone Perrotta and Alessandro Nesta came in. Gennaro Gattuso was suspended and Fabio Grosso injured.
Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Cannavaro got in each other's way for an early header and the Azzurri were repeatedly caught offside by the Georgian defence, marshalled by Milan's Kakhaber Kaladze.
The breakthrough came in spectacular fashion. De Rossi, wearing the Number 10 jersey, unleashed a fierce right-foot effort from almost 30 metres that bounced mercilessly in front of the goalkeeper to slot in at the far post.
Lomaia performed an excellent save moments later on Di Natale's volley from a chipped Andrea Pirlo free kick, but it wouldn't have counted as he was offside.
There were worried faces, though, as Gianluca Zambrotta suffered a deep cut beneath his right eye and required several minutes of treatment.
Georgia grabbed a surprise equaliser with another fine strike. A set-piece was not cleared effectively and Sashiasvili drove home an unstoppable drive from the edge of the box to beat Gigi Buffon.
Pirlo's free kick was met by Nesta, whose deflected header went over the bar. Luca Toni scored a fantastic goal against the Ukraine at the weekend and nearly improved upon it. On 34 minutes he chested down the ball with his back to goal and spun roud for a half-volley that shaved the upright.
The Fiorentina hitman missed a much easier chance moments later. Zambrotta ran into the area and pulled back for Toni, who incredibly slashed his finish wide with only the goalkeeper to beat from eight yards.
De Rossi lined up another screamer, but this time Khizaneishvili was ready and rushed out to charge him down. Di Natale's cross reached Toni only for the glancing header to go wide of the target.
Yet it was Georgia who could so easily have gone into the half-time break leading 2-1. On 44 minutes Sashiasvili hit another powerful strike from 20 metres that this time cannoned off the base of the upright with Buffon motionless.
STILL NO NEWS ON DP!!!
THIS IS STRANGE
