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Monday, June 12, 2006

Full Time

ITALY 2 - 0 GHANA

6 comments:

Jinbon H Wrong aka Sloop John B said...

Goal

Wreckless Euroafrican said...

U got it!!!!!

Seaman R/Bay said...

Solid Italy outshine Black Stars
First Published: Jun 12, 2006

Italian forward Vincenzo Iaquinta exults after scoring the second goal for his team during their FIFA World Cup opener vs Ghana in Hannover. Italy won 2-0.
Italy began their World Cup campaign with a solid 2-0 victory over Ghana here on Monday which won the approval of coach Marcello Lippi.

Andrea Pirlo's rasping 40th-minute drive put Italy ahead before substitute Vincenzo Iaquinta settled an intriguing Group E contest of contrasting styles with a breakaway goal seven minutes from the end.

Italy twice hit the woodwork in the first half and Ghana keeper Richard Kingston made a series of excellent saves to keep the four-time African champions in the game before Iaquinta struck.

Question marks have been raised about Italy's ability to cope with the distraction of the Serie A match-fixing scandal that is rumbling on back in the peninsula.

But despite several scares, the Azzurri never looked like ending up with anything less than three priceless points.


Ghanaian midfielder Eric Addo(L) is challenged by Italian defender Francesco Totti during their World Cup group E clash in Hannover. Italy won 2-0.
"We knew Ghana were strong and would put us under pressure but we got the three points and we are very satisfied," Lippi said.

Most neutrals were rooting for Ghana, hoping to see one of world football's aristrocrats embarrassed by the African underdogs, appearing at their first World Cup.

But too often the Black Stars lost their composure in front of goal after creating good openings, and in the end Italy's class told.

Kingston, preferred to Sammy Adjei in Ghana's goal, came to their rescue in the 12th minute, smothering a shot from Alberto Gilardino before seeing the ball hit the outside of the post.

After Sulley Muntari's drive had whistled over the bar, Italy were once again denied by the woodwork.

Gilardino's flick released Luca Toni whose fierce right-footed shot thumped the underside of the bar.


Italian forward Luca Toni(L) is challenged by Ghanaian defender John Mensah during their FIFA World Cup 2006 group E clash in Hannover. Italy won 2-0.
Asamoah Gyan and Michael Essien both sent shots into the stands for Ghana after promising runs before the Africans missed a golden chance.

A defensive clearance found its way to Emmanuel Pappoe with plenty of time to line up his shot, but rather than hit the target he sliced his effort wide.

Italy finally made the breakthrough five minutes before half-time.

Totti tapped a corner short to Pirlo, whose right-footed drive from just outside the box flew into the bottom corner.

Pirlo's effort would not have gone in had his quick-thinking team-mate Gilardino not ducked out of the way of the goalbound shot.

Fabio Grosso came close to putting Italy further ahead just before the break, but Kingston was equal to his angled strike.


Italian footballer Francesco Totti(R) and Ghana's Eric Addo vie for an aerial ball during their FIFA World Cup 2006 group E clash in Hannover. Italy won 2-0.
Kingston produced another vital save to deny Gilardino shortly after the break, before Buffon was called upon to make his first intervention, diving at full stretch to palm away Essien's shot.

Totti went off injured after picking up a knock on the same ankle that he broke back in February - though Lippi said first indications were that he was not badly hurt - before Ghana's backline was brutally exposed in the 83rd minute.

Pirlo released Iaquinta, who was beaten to the ball by Sammy Kuffour, but the Roma defender's attempted backpass was woefully short.

Iaquinta took full advantage of the error, rounding Kingston before slotting the ball into an unguarded net.

jenny said...

Aye well done Italy! I want you to stay in...not as much as I want Totti back in action for the next game though...Yum, Yum, Yum! I'd happily volunteer to rub his sore bits better!

Wreckless Euroafrican said...

Totti - you and 10000 others!
Salagatle!

Divemaster GranDad said...

I wonder if Jen knows that "Totti" is also Afrikaans slang for a penis (spelled slightly differently, but pronounced the same)? Mind you, does she care? LOL...