Italy see off Ghana challenge
Italy see off Ghana challenge
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Monday, 12, Jun 2006 10:05
Italy survived a spirited performance from World Cup debutants Ghana to claim a 2-0 win in Hanover.
Goals from Andrea Pirlo and Vincenzo Iaquinta gave the Italians, notoriously bad starters at World Cups, three points from the opening game.
However, the African side put up a brave fight and matched the 1982 winners for much of the game.
After an opening which saw plenty of blood-and-thunder from Ratomir Dujkovic's men, it was a moment of quality from Simone Perrotta which almost produced the first goal on 12 minutes.
His beautifully-executed cross from the right-hand side dissected the defence and the goalkeeper along the six-yard box and while it ran millimetres from a lunging Luca Toni, the ball found Alberto Gilardino at the back post and his shot was touched onto the post by Richard Kingston.
Ghana played some attractive football but it was the Italians who were coming closer as Toni got on the end of his own flick-on on 27 minutes and his brilliant volley from the edge of the area cannoned against the underside of the bar before rebounding out.
Asamoah Gyan dragged a shot inches wide moments later but the Azzurri were ahead five minutes before the break.
A short-corner found Pirlo on the edge of the area and he powered a right-foot shot through a crowd of players into the corner.
Ghana weren't phased though and Michael Essien produced a good diving save from Gianluigi Buffon on 54 minutes.
However, they were very lucky not to fall two-behind with 15 minutes to go as Iaquinta was harshly adjudged to have been offside when clean-through.
Ghanaian defender Samuel Kuffour was even luckier though as his horrific challenge from behind only escaped a red card because the flag had gone up.
Iaquinta wasn't to be denied for too long and he grabbed Italy's second with seven minutes remaining, getting on the end of Kuffour's underhit backpass to round Kingston and place the ball into the empty net.