When Mario Balotelli puts his mind to it, he can be unstoppable.
His winning goal in Italy’s 2-1 victory over Mexico at the Confederations Cup proved his class, though he needs to maintain his focus even after scoring such goals.
In the 78th minute Sunday, Balotelli collected a perfectly lobbed pass from Emanuele Giaccherini and muscled his way between two defenders to break a deadlock in the first official match at the Maracana Stadium.
Much like at last year’s European Championship, when he scored both goals in a 2-1 semifinal win over Germany and pulled off his shirt after one of them, Balotelli reacted by stripping off his jersey to show his muscular physique, earning an automatic yellow card.
If Balotelli picks up another yellow card in Italy’s next match, against Japan, he’ll miss the final group game against host Brazil.
“I didn’t know about this rule with the two yellows,” Balotelli said. “Next time I won’t do it.”
Perhaps worried that he might pick up a second yellow, as in last week’s match against the Czech Republic, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli replaced Balotelli in the 85th with Alberto Gilardino.
Celebrating his 100th appearance with the national team, Andrea Pirlo had given Italy the lead with one of his trademark free kicks in the 27th. Mexico equalized in the 34th minute, when Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez converted a penalty kick after Andrea Barzagli tripped Giovani Dos Santos.
“I was dreaming of a free-kick goal,” Pirlo said. “It was important to win the first match and now we have three days to recuperate. It’s nice to be applauded in a legendary stadium like this.”
In an entertaining Group A match, Italy dominated possession while Mexico relied on counterattacks, coming close when Andres Guardado hit the crossbar in the 11th.
Spain cruise
RECIFE: Andres Iniesta repeated several times that Spain deserved its 2-1 victory over Uruguay in their Confederations Cup opener.
The Spain midfielder had only one problem with Sunday’s result. The game wasn’t as close as the score looked, and Spain should have scored at least one more goal.
Spain had 77 percent of the possession in the first half, and 71 in the match — and that tells much of the story.
Cesc Fabregas hit the post in the 10th minute, which is the other goal Iniesta was probably talking about.
The World Cup champions did get two first-half goals just after Fabregas’ miss — one in the 20th from Pedro and another 12 minutes later by striker Roberto Soldado.
Spain had a little luck with the first goal, which looked to be heading wide when it took a huge deflection off Uruguay defender Diego lugano to beat goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
The second was perfect finishing by Soldado after a cute reverse pass from Cesc Fabregas.
luis Suarez scored a consolation goal with a delicately curling free kick for Uruguay in the 88th.
Spain are attempting to win the only major trophy they lack.
Uruguay barely touched the ball in the first 15 minutes as Spain linked dozens of touches together, eventually setting up Pedro’s goal. He scored from just outside the area as lugano lunged trying to stop the shot — and pushed it into the goal, instead.
Soldado’s goal could have a lasting impact — a clean finish when he was left alone in front of Muslera.