Italy defeated the Netherlands 2-0 at the Stadio San Nicola in Bari on Thursday night, in an international friendly.
Early first-half goals by Ciro Immobile and a penalty by Daniele De Rossi were enough to get Antonio Conte’s reign as the new Azzurri boss off to a perfect start as the away side had defender Bruno Martins Indi send off for a professional foul.
The home side got off to the perfect start after only three minutes, a long ball played through by Leonardo Bonucci inside his own half split the Dutch defense and found Immobile who rounded Jasper Cillessen in the Dutch goal and rolled it in to the empty net.
Things got even better six minutes later, as again the away defense were caught out with a through-ball, this time by De Rossi, who found debutante Simone Zaza get in behind his man Martins Indi in the box and the Dutch defender was adjudged to have brought down the striker which resulted in a red card for the Porto man and a penalty for the home team which was dispatched by captain De Rossi.
Mid-way through the half it was the home side that created another great chance when Immobile ran free down the left wing and his cross found Zaza unmarked eight-yards out but his tame left foot effort was saved by Cillessen and went over the bar for a corner kick.
A Wesley Sneijder long range shot that flew over the bar was as much as the away side could muster in 45 minutes of action as the teams headed in for the break.
Moments into the second half though the Netherlands did create a great chance to pull one back as a Daley Blind ball found Robin Van Persie in the box and his veracious left foot shot across the goal had Salvatore Sirigu beaten but skimmed the outside of the post and wide.
Both side made a raft of substitutions mid-way through the second half and it wasn’t until ten minutes from time another clear chance was created as Azzurri subs Manuel Pasqual crossed to Mattia Destro in the box but the Roma striker will be disappointed with his header which failed to trouble Cillessen.
No more chances were created and Conte will be the much the happier of the two coaches.
The Azzurri now face a trip to Norway in five days time as they open their Euro 2016 qualifying group H campaign while the Dutch face the Czech Republic in Prague in group A.
