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FIFA U-17 World Championship: US better than Italy [Wed Sep 21st, 2005]
A very sound display by the Americans proved too much for Italy in a 3-1 victory. Italy finished the match with ten men on the field and minus their head coach from the bench.
Italy looked in charge for the first few minutes of this match, but the United States quickly seized control and sent the ten-man Italians kicking and screaming to a 3-1 defeat. Sloppy and out of sync against the Koreans, the Americans were energetic and clearly the better-prepared side today.
Italy's attacking duo of Salvatore Foti and Chrisitan Tiboni were taken completely out of the match, because their midfield could not generate any possession.
US forward David Arvizu, meantime, was a true menace all afternoon and it’s a wonder how the Italians managed not to concede three goals to the young American just in the opening half.
Captain Ofori Sarkodie opened the scoring for the US two minutes into the second half, collecting a bouncing free kick and hammering past poor Enrico Alfonso. Mere seconds after the restart Arvizu thought he had doubled the lead, but his opportunistic poach was called back for offside.
Visibly perturbed by the deficit, the Italians began to lose their cool, showing their lack of years. Foti was sent off on the hour mark, and eventually his manager, Francesco Rocca, joined him for an early shower for the final seven minutes.
Kyle Nakazawa, who scored on a free kick against North Korea, duplicated the feat in the 66th minute 23-yards away on the left edge of the penalty area. The goal surpassed his effort on Saturday and proved to be the winner.
But just as he did against the Koreans, US goalkeeper Bryant Rueckner gifted the opposition a goal. Andrea Russotto sent a harmless free kick into the American penalty area, but Rueckner lost his concentration and allowed the ball to bounce in for a lucky goal and a suddenly precarious one-goal lead to defend with a quarter-hour to play.
The Italians desperately tried to take advantage and find an equaliser. They produced several nervous moments for the US, because the poor play by Rueckner seemed to spread to the rest of the American defence for a brief spell.
But Rueckner atoned for his error when he was quick off his line to block a shot from Marco Mancuso. With chances fading, the Italian frustration culminated when Rocca was asked to leave his place on the sidelines.
US midfielder Ryan Soroka added a late tap-in, his second goal of the tournament, when he was on hand to clean up some poor defending and goalkeeping.
The result for the US was well-deserved, despite Italian immaturity. The US close out Group play against Ivory Coast on Friday in Lima, whereas Italy will look to regroup in their final match against North Korea.
SCORING
USA – Ofori Sarkodie (Kyle Nakazawa) 47th minute
USA – Kyle Nakazawa 66.
ITA – Andrea Russotto 74.
USA – Ryan Soroka (Preston Zimmerman) 58
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