Italy defeated Urugauy 3-2 on penalties after an enrthalling third place playoff at the Confederations Cup ended 2-2.
The Azzurri took the lead in the 24th minute in Salvador thanks to a Davide Astori tap in, but Edinson Cavani scored twice, either side of an Alessandro Diamanti freekick to restore parity.
Uruguay looked dangerous early on with Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez creating early chances, while Antonio Candreva stung the hands of Fernando Muslera with a shot from distance.
Muslera then helped the Azzurri take the lead when he misjudged the flight of a Diamanti freekick, which then struck the crossbar before rebounding off the goalkeeper’s back and into the path of Astori who nudged the ball over the line.
Looking to hit back straight away, Suarez was played through on goal and forced Gianluigi Buffon into a good save at his near post, while Cavani also had a goal ruled out for offside.
AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy did have a couple of good chances but was denied by Muslera, and at the other end Buffon dealt with a couple of long range efforts from Maxi Pereira and Arevalo Rios with ease.
In the second period Uruguay took the game to Italy and after a period of sustained pressure they finally got their reward.
A mistake in midfield gifted the South American’s the ball and Walter Gargano raced forward on the counter attack before the ball fell to Cavani in the area and he slotted home into the far right corner.
With mistakes creeping in more chances were offered to both sides. Alvaro Gonzalez skimmed the crossbar, while Buffon performed a miraculous double save to deny Diego Forlan.
But it was Bologna’s Diamanti who put Italy back in the lead with a delightful freekick which he curled up and over the Uruguayan wall.
However, just five minutes later another freekick was put into the back of the net, this time it was Cavani whose own strike, which was fairly central, outfoxed Buffon and found its way into the goal.
Christian Maggio had a glancing header go just wide and Alberto Aquilani saw a long distance effort easily gathered by Muslera.
In extra time both sides looked fatigued as the heat and humidity took their toll.
Candreva shot just wide, while Suarez hit another just over the crossbar, and Riccardo Montolivo was sent off for collecting a second yellow card, and the match went to penalties.
In the end the hero was Buffon who saved Gargano’s decisive penalty and gave the Azzurri third place in the 2013 Confederations Cup.
