Italy 4-3 Japan: Giovinco provides the winner in thrilling Confederations Cup contest

Date: 20th June 2013 at 2:11am
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Giovinco - Italy v JapanItaly defeated Japan 4-3 in a thrilling match at the Itaipava Arena in Recife the Confederations Cup.

The Blue Samurai took an early two goal lead thanks to a Keisuke Honda penalty and Shinja Kagawa strike. But the Azzurri went ahead after goals from Daniele De Rossi, an Atsuto Uchida own goal, and a Mario Balotelli penalty, before Shinji Okazaki brought Japan level.

But Sebastian Giovinco broke Japanese heart as his 86th minute goal gave Cesare Prandelli’s men all three points.

That old stereotype of Italians being slow starters could be leveled here at the Azzurri. Japan began with quick and concise passing backed up with energetic pressing. Italy were slow, laboured and unusually sloppy.

Honda had clearly been instructed by his coach to drop deep onto Pirlo and distrupt him. More than once, the great Juventus play maker was caught in possession during the first half.

The penalty came after 19 minutes when De Sciglio’s under hit back pass to Gianluigi Buffon, left the Italian keeper coming at Ryiochi Maeda in desperation, and the Argentine referee awarded a penalty for Buffon’s clumsey foul on the Japanese player. Honda struck the penalty hard and low to Buffon’s left.

Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli could see his team needed a change and so he withdrew Alberto Aquilani for Giovinco as early as the 29th minute.

Despite the substitution, the Japanese doubled their lead two minutes later. Giorgio Chiellini and Riccardo Montolivo seemed to be unsure who was about to clear the loose ball bouncing in the box. They both left it and Kagawa volleyed the ball past Buffon to give the Japanese a shock 2-0 lead.

Italy re-grouped and began to string some passes together and their pressure on the Japanese goal was rewarded with a corner. Pirlo, who didn’t have Honda marking him now, took the corner and De Rossi met it with a powerful header.

That phycological boost proved to be what Italy needed. Four minutes after the re-start Emanuele Giaccherini found himself in the Japanese penalty area ready to tie up Balotelli for a tap in, only for it to be knocked in by an oustretched Uchida.

Alberto Zaccheroni’s team barely had time to realise it was 2-2 when a penalty was awarded to the Italians after Hasebe’s block cannoned up onto his hand. Balotelli stepped up and he AC Milan star converted.

The game swung back in the Asian Cup winners favour again with 20 minutes left. Yasuhito Endo played in a free kick which Okazaki met with his head to draw the game level again.

Italy would have the last laugh though, with five minutes remaining, De Rossi played a lovely through pass for Claudio Marchisio whose slide rule cross ensured a tap in for Giovinco, and three points for Cesare Prandelli.

 

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