aquliani winner stuns world champions spain
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Aquliani winner stuns world champions Spain

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleAquliani winner stuns world champions Spain

Bari - AFP

Former world champions Italy stunned the team who succeeded them just over a year ago with a 2-1 victory over Spain here on Wednesday. Alberto Aquilani scored the winner six minutes from time after Riccardo Montolivo had given the hosts a deserved lead before Xabi Alonso equalised from the penalty spot. While Italy enjoyed by far the best of the opening period, Spain controlled the second half until a spate of substitutions robbed the match of any rhythm. Cesare Prandelli's Italy can be proud of themselves, although with just two Barcelona players in Vicente Del Bosque's starting line-up -- seven started the World Cup final against Holland -- it is debateable whether this really was the Spanish first team. Italy were quick out of the traps, eager to put pressure on the world champions and prevent them from establishing any rhythm. Prandelli had said the day before that he picked two deep lying forwards and no centre forward or wingers so that Italy's central midfielders could break from deep. His tactic seemed to work to perfection in the early stages. On four minutes a quick counter attack saw Antonio Cassano, captain for the day in his city of birth, feed Thiago Motta, who passed for Giuseppe Rossi to lay it back to Domenico Criscito to crash a rasping shot off the post with Iker Casillas beaten. It was all Italy in the early stages, sitting deep and allowing Spain possession before hitting them with rapier counter attacks. They took a deserved lead when Criscito split the defence for Montolivo to run behind Gerard Pique and chip the onrushing Casillas, the ball clipping the bar on its way down and in. Italy created another great chance but Cassano's willingness to go down under negligible contact from Pique cost him what seemed a clear one-on-one chance with Casillas. Another ball over the top sent Rossi charging in from a wide position but Casillas stood up bravely to save with his legs. Spain were then awarded a dubious penalty when Giorgio Chiellini was adjudged to have fouled Fernando Llorente, although even TV replays proved inconclusive as to exactly what the Juventus centre-back's offence had been. Alonso clipped the ball straight down the middle from 12 yards as Gianluigi Buffon dived to his left. Late in the half Casillas's legs came to the rescue again after Cassano used his strength to hold off Andoni Iraola before shooting from 20 yards. Spain had been forced into making two changes during the first half with Fernando Torres coming off after a quarter of an hour and Pique leaving the pitch just before the break. They made three more changes at the break and soon after Alvaro Arbeloa tried his luck from 40 yards, the ball dipping just over as Buffon back-tracked desperately. Just past the hour mark Spain opened up Italy but Llorente's finish in front of an open goal was poor, although it almost crept in via a deflection off Criscito before Buffon scrambled it clear. Spain were pushing and Silva tested Buffon's reactions before Andrea Pirlo kept substitute goalkeeper Victor Valdes busy at the other end. But then Aquilani's weak shot deflected off Raul Albiol and left Valdes wrong-footed and Italy in raptures.

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

aquliani winner stuns world champions spain aquliani winner stuns world champions spain

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 05:43 2016 Thursday ,23 June

Copa America:Chile vs. Colombia

GMT 02:32 2017 Tuesday ,28 February

Film on Syria's White Helmets wins Oscar

GMT 15:02 2016 Thursday ,15 December

Kanye emerges from hospital to meet Trump

GMT 08:35 2017 Wednesday ,26 July

Top EU court upholds Hamas terror listing

GMT 12:43 2012 Tuesday ,17 January

Ice-locked Nome finally gets tanker fuel

GMT 05:25 2016 Sunday ,08 May

Leicester collects Premier League trophy

GMT 12:16 2015 Friday ,01 May

Damanhur festival shows Egypt stable, safe

GMT 14:29 2015 Monday ,29 June

Armed men attack Mali's southern town of Fakola

GMT 14:40 2016 Monday ,07 November

Lamjarred may be temporarily released

GMT 10:08 2017 Tuesday ,21 February

To probe sexual harassment claims

GMT 15:26 2017 Monday ,03 April

Palestinian detainees suffer under occupation

GMT 18:34 2017 Wednesday ,27 December

Shaath reveals opening date of Metro third line
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle