4-3 win over Japan
RECIFE: On a hot and humid tropical evening, Italy sweated out a 4-3 victory over Japan.
And by their own account, the Azzurri were fortunate to come out on top.
Italy rallied from a two-goal deficit Wednesday to overcome a passionate Japan squad coached by one of their countryman and reach the Confederations Cup semifinals.
First-half substitute Sebastian Giovinco scored the winner in the 86th minute of a wild match at the Arena Pernambuco, pounding home a cross from Claudio Marchisio.
After a dismal start for the Azzurri that saw Japan score twice in the opening 33 minutes, Daniele De Rossi pulled one back with a header in the 41st, Japan defender Atsuto Uchida scored an own-goal in the 50th and Mario Balotelli converted a penalty in the 52nd to give Italy a 3-2 lead.
Japan had taken the lead with a penalty from Keisuke Honda in the 21st. Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa made it 2-0 in the 33rd after a defensive error. Shinji Okazaki later made it 3-3 in the 69th.
In all, Japan produced 17 shots, 11 of them on goal and three off the woodwork.
“That shows how fortunate we were tonight,” Italy goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon said. “We won a match we probably shouldn’t have won.”
Italy put seven of their 12 shots on goal.
In the final round of group matches, Italy will face host Brazil in Salvador on Saturday and Japan meet Mexico in Belo Horizonte.
For the first half hour, Italy struggled with defensive errors while Japan controlled the majority of the play.
Zaccheroni, an Italian who took over as coach of Japan three years ago, seemed to know just how to contain Italy.
First, Mattia De Sciglio made a poor backpass to set up Honda’s penalty. The pass forced Buffon to tackle Okazaki inside the area. Buffon protested vehemently that it was a clean tackle but Argentine referee Diego Abal thought otherwise and pointed to the penalty spot and showed Buffon a yellow card.
Next, Giorgio Chiellini mistimed a clearing attempt on a bouncing ball inside the area and Kagawa took advantage by firing in an acrobatic strike.
Italy didn’t really threaten at all until De Rossi scored by meeting a corner from Andrea Pirlo with a textbook header.
However, De Rossi will miss Italy’s next match after picking up his second yellow card in two games.
The goal energized Italy and Emanuele Giaccherini nearly leveled the score when his shot hit the post in first-half injury time. The own-goal that made it 2-2 came when Giaccherini attempted to pass to a wide open Balotelli and Uchida intercepted and knocked it into his own net.
Italy went ahead 3-2 from Balotelli’s penalty following a hand ball by Japan captain Makoto Hasebe.
Okazaki then shocked the Italians when he beat Riccardo Montolivo to a header to make it 3-3. AP