Gianluigi Buffon saved three penalties as an under-strength Italy edged Uruguay 3-2 in a shootout Sunday to secure third place at the Confederations Cup following a 2-2 draw after extra time.
“The main thing tonight was our character. We showed fantastic character. We never gave up,” Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said.
This shootout capped an entertaining match at the Arena Fonte Nova, where Alessandro Diamanti scored one goal and set up another for Italy and Edinson Cavani equalized twice for Uruguay.
Italy defender Davide Astori opened the scoring in the 24th minute after Diamanti’s free kick rattled the post and Cavani equalized for Uruguay in the 58th with an angled shot.
Diamanti restored Italy’s lead in the 73rd with another free kick that went in directly but not to be outdone Cavani drew Uruguay level again five minutes later with an equally splendid free kick of his own.
Uruguay has now lost seven of eight bronze-medal matches at the World Cup, Copa America and Confederations Cup, including a loss to Germany at the 2010 World Cup.
This defeat was surprising, considering that Uruguay appeared to be the fresher squad entering the game.
“I told my players before the match, ‘It’s Italy, boys, so watch out,” Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said.
For Italy it marked another step forward after finishing runner-up to Spain at last year’s European Championship.
In the shootout, the 35-year-old Buffon set the tone by stopping the first shot in the shootout from Diego Forlan, then also saved from Martin Caceres before smothering Walter Gargano’s effort to end the game.
Alberto Aquilani, Stephan El Shaarawy and Emanuele Giaccherini converted for Italy while Mattia De Sciglio’s shot was blocked by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
“Buffon is a great champion. He plays with a kid’s enthusiasm,” Prandelli said. “He was upset the other night because he wasn’t able to save a penalty. And he told the squad that if it goes to penalties today, ‘Don’t worry I’ll take care of it.’”