Confederations Cup: Italy beat Uruguay to win bronze
JULY 1, 2013
•Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani (centre) is marked by Italy’s Davide Astori (left) and Emanuele Giaccherini during their FIFA Confederations Cup third-place match, at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador, Brazil on Sunday. Italy won 3-2 via penalty shoot-out. Photo: AFP
Italy claimed the bronze medals at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup after defeating Uruguay 3-2 on penalties at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador in the third place playoff on Sunday.
A thoroughly entertaining match ended 2-2 after extra time and the Azzurri, thanks to three saves in the shootout from goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon, triumphed in a post-match penalty shootout.
Italy claimed the lead midway through the first half. Alessandro Diamanti’s free kick rebounded off the inside of the far post, struck the back of goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and was tucked home on the line by Davide Astori.
The goal was initially credited to Diamanti, but a review using Goal Line Technology – the first such instance in a major FIFA tournament – determined that Astori was the man to be credited with the strike, his first for the Azzurri.
Uruguay drew level 13 minutes into the second half, with Napoli striker Edinson Cavani receiving a reverse pass into the penalty area before opening up his body to slide a shot beyond the reach of Buffon.
On 73 minutes Italy reclaimed the advantage through a superb goal from Diamanti. There was no question of the curling effort into the back of the net direct from a free kick being credited to Diamanti, who joined Astori in registering his first goal for the national team.
Just five minutes later the South Americans made it 2-2. Cavani racked up his second with a brilliant strike from a free kick that left Buffon flapping at nothing but air and was equal to, if not better than, Diamanti’s effort.
The match went to an extra 30 minutes and Italy spent the last 10 of them at a man’s disadvantage after midfielder Riccardo Montolivo was sent off after picking up a second yellow card. Nonetheless, the Europeans held on for a draw and sent the match to penalties.
Buffon then made himself the hero of the hour as he kept out efforts from Diego Forlan, Martin Caceres and Walter Gargano to see the Azzurri win 3-2 in the shootout.
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