Il Capitano Alessandro Del Piero (143 Viewers)
- Thread starter Chxta
- Start date
Euro 2008 qualifier - October 11, 2006
Georgia 1 - 3 Italy
De Rossi 16 (R), Sashiashvili 24 (G), Camoranesi 61 (I), Perrotta 71 (I)
Tibilisi
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Italy
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.
Georgia were more attacking after the break, but Kankava picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Pirlo and was sent off on the hour mark. Less than a minute later, Italy took full advantage to restore their lead. Di Natale went down the left flank and his cross found Camoranesi totally unmarked for a free header into the bottom near corner.
Lazio's Stefano Mauri replaced the tired Pirlo and the Azzurri made it 3-1. Zambrotta started the move, again down the left, and cut back for Toni. He missed the ball, but Camoranesi put it back in for Simone Perrotta's cool finish from 12 yards. It was the Roma man's second goal in an Italy shirt.
Cannavaro requested a substitution and made way for Marco Materazzi, De Rossi curled a free kick inches past the near post and Buffon comfortably held a Sashiashvili strike. Donadoni's final substitute was Vincenzo Iaquinta, on for goalscorer Camoranesi, while Milan defender Kaladze fired wide after a solo run. Toni wasted another two good chances in stoppages, his header and a finish going out as he slipped on the wet turf.
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Georgia: Lomaia; Khizaneishvili, Khizanishvili, Kaladze, Sashiashvili; Mentesashvili, Kankava, Tskitishvili (Kandelaki 75), Kvirkvella; Martsvaladze (Gigiadze 86), Ashvetia (Iashvili 69)
Italy: Buffon; Oddo, Nesta, Cannavaro (Materazzi 74), Zambrotta; Pirlo (Mauri 62), De Rossi; Camoranesi (Iaquinta 87), Perrotta, Di Natale; Toni
Ref: Riley (Eng)
Sent off: Kankava 60 (G)
Still nothing on DP
Georgia 1 - 3 Italy
De Rossi 16 (R), Sashiashvili 24 (G), Camoranesi 61 (I), Perrotta 71 (I)
Tibilisi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Italy
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.
Georgia were more attacking after the break, but Kankava picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Pirlo and was sent off on the hour mark. Less than a minute later, Italy took full advantage to restore their lead. Di Natale went down the left flank and his cross found Camoranesi totally unmarked for a free header into the bottom near corner.
Lazio's Stefano Mauri replaced the tired Pirlo and the Azzurri made it 3-1. Zambrotta started the move, again down the left, and cut back for Toni. He missed the ball, but Camoranesi put it back in for Simone Perrotta's cool finish from 12 yards. It was the Roma man's second goal in an Italy shirt.
Cannavaro requested a substitution and made way for Marco Materazzi, De Rossi curled a free kick inches past the near post and Buffon comfortably held a Sashiashvili strike. Donadoni's final substitute was Vincenzo Iaquinta, on for goalscorer Camoranesi, while Milan defender Kaladze fired wide after a solo run. Toni wasted another two good chances in stoppages, his header and a finish going out as he slipped on the wet turf.
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Georgia: Lomaia; Khizaneishvili, Khizanishvili, Kaladze, Sashiashvili; Mentesashvili, Kankava, Tskitishvili (Kandelaki 75), Kvirkvella; Martsvaladze (Gigiadze 86), Ashvetia (Iashvili 69)
Italy: Buffon; Oddo, Nesta, Cannavaro (Materazzi 74), Zambrotta; Pirlo (Mauri 62), De Rossi; Camoranesi (Iaquinta 87), Perrotta, Di Natale; Toni
Ref: Riley (Eng)
Sent off: Kankava 60 (G)
Still nothing on DP
