American-born Giuseppe Rossi, who left New Jersey for an Italian team in Parma when he was 12, scored two goals as Italy beat the U.S., 3-1, in a FIFA Confederations Cup game in South Africa. The explosive play by both sides caused fans to rock the sports complex in Pretoria.
Rossi, a powerful striker with joint American-Italian citizenship, fired a spectacular long-range goal in the 59th minute, just a minute after entering as a sub, to tie the score. The U.S. had gone ahead in the 41st minute courtesy of a Landon Donovan penalty kick. The penalty was the result of Giorgio Chiellini tackling Jozy Altidore to the ground.
Midfielder Daniel de Rossi gave Italy the lead for good when he made an easy goal in the 72nd minute. Rossi’s second goal of the game in stoppage time made the final 3-1. American goalkeeper Tim Howard did his best, but it did not help that that U.S. played shorthanded from the 33rd minute after Ricardo Clark was red carded.
After the game, two players from each side exchanged shirts, a soccer tradition. For our fashion-conscious gay men, the Italian team was seen wearing replica kits of the 1934 World Cup, with sky blue tops and brown-burgundy shorts and stockings.
Italy plays Egypt on Saturday, while the USA team plays Brazil on Thursday.
Hat tip to Yahoo! Sports & ESPN.
on Jun 16th, 2009 at 12:28 AM
I wondered what was up with Italy’s jerseys…
DeRossi’s goal was hardly easy- it was an excellent shot from well outside the penalty area. Tim Howard was screened by Oguchi Onyewu on that one. Rossi’s first goal broke my heart- but at least we still have another year to improve before the World Cup.
on Jun 16th, 2009 at 3:35 AM
Greg, as a long time player of the sport, and dare I say a pro at calling plays, it was an easy shot. One that I could have made myself, and have several times in my life.
The game was an eye-opener for the USA team. I can only pray and hope that we win the game with Brazil, this Thursday. Brazil has an amazing team, and the game will either be “cream or be creamed,” that’s just the truth.
on Jun 16th, 2009 at 5:02 AM
win the game against brazil? sorry, but i would like some of that same pie in the sky you are eating. brazil’s soccer is superior to that of Italy’s right now. by far.
on Jun 16th, 2009 at 10:26 AM
The US played well against the Azzuri. They managed to open up their defence a number of times and if they could actually finish some of their chances, the result is much different.
Granted, Italy was a much better team once Rossi was subbed in. He brought tons of intensity and speed to the pitch and that clearly was the turning point.
I think they’ll be in tough to get out of this group – especially with how well Egypt played against Brazil.
on Jun 16th, 2009 at 12:05 PM
The problem with the US has always been finishing. It doesn’t matter against poor CONCACAF teams since even if you only make 20% of the really good chances you’ll still score 5 goals. That doesn’t work on the international stage though. Prior to the red card Donovan and Altidore were creating chances but failing to capitalize.
The red card against Clark sunk any hope of the US winning. It was a poor decision – a card no doubt but a red was too harsh in my opinion, but that is par for the course with South American refs (the official was from Chile). Everytime I see highlights of South American games somebody gets red carded. But I question the decision to play a guy like Ricardo Clark in this kind of game though. He’s incredibly reckless and has serious discipline problems in MLS, let alone against midfielders of twice his ability like Pirlo and Gattuso.
I don’t have much faith in beating Brazil, however the game against Egypt may be a dynamite match even if there’s nothing to play for.
on Jun 16th, 2009 at 1:06 PM
i don’t think there is any such thing as an easy goal in soccer. One can make scoring look easy but you still have to put the ball in the back of the net even if the goalie is sleeping.
on Jun 17th, 2009 at 12:01 AM
@ Nae: Please re-read my comment. I believe you misinterpreted it…
@ Jay Original: Oh there is actually, the shot was easy. At least it is for me, so I guess that’s where you got confused? I’m sure the Brazilians will work their magic on the US.
on Jun 17th, 2009 at 1:11 AM
DJ. I am saying that soccer is a technical sport that takes practice, effort, and skill. We have two different understandings of what is “easy”. Kobe Bryant makes basketball plays look easy, but a layup still takes effort and practice to develop the skill set.
I am not really that concerned about your journalist angle since everyone is entitled to their own and no one is denying that you are a good soccer player. I haven’t seen you play so I can’t speak to it. At the same time, I can say that as a sweeper/stopper, any time I am on the field no shot on goal is “easy”. It’s just a matter of perspective. I’ve broken the hearts of many a striker.
on Jun 17th, 2009 at 1:26 AM
I asked a journalist friend of mine who covers soccer and he said it was an easy goal.
on Jun 17th, 2009 at 2:59 AM
And Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I wasn’t there for that either.
on Jun 17th, 2009 at 12:19 PM
DeRossi has a good long range shot…we saw that in the European Championships last year when he scored from further out against France. The U.S. should have known he can shoot from outside the box and pressured him more on the play. But, even still, the shot wasn’t easy in my book…Tim Howard was only a inch or two away from pushing it around the post.
I’m sure you’re a good player, DJ, but I don’t think it was as easy as it looked.
Brazil is going to come out much better than they did against Egypt, and the U.S. is going to have to weather the storm. If Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley can’t keep the ball in the midfield, though, there’s no hope for the U.S.
on Jun 18th, 2009 at 12:56 PM
DJ where are you? We need some good reporting on this:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/06/18/us-brazil.ap/index.html
on Jun 19th, 2009 at 2:36 AM
I should forewarn you all that I play striker/forward, whatever you like to call that position. My job is to play with the minds of others and most obviously, my job is to get that beautiful ball into the goal area/zone/net, whatever you want to call it.
It’s been my job for the last 16+ years. It may take a player of another position or a non-player of the game to play at the best of their ability on the position of striker/forward, the goals will still be hard for them.
I say it’s an easy goal, because for me it’s a piece of cake. For others, it might not.
@ Jay: Yikes, that game was torture to watch.
I’ll see what I can do, Jay.