Antonio Di Natale shows his delight after scoring
for Italy (¿Getty Images)
Antonio Di Natale was the two-goal hero for Italy as the
Azzurri claimed three vital points from their Group B qualifier in Ukraine.
Ukraine aggrieved
Roberto Donadoni's side were on the back foot for much of the encounter
but Di Natale's double moved Italy above France and into second place
in the table. Andriy Shevchenko was arguably the game's outstanding player,
leading the home team forward and scoring an equaliser midway through
the second half, but that was not enough to earn the point Ukraine felt
they merited.
Headed opener
Shevchenko set the tone early on, firing a 25-metre free-kick against
the crossbar with Gianluigi Buffon beaten. The striker continued to pose
a threat, forcing Buffon into action from even further out as Ukraine
went close to an opening goal, yet in typical fashion Italy took the lead
with their first chance four minutes before the break. Andrea Pirlo lifted
the ball to Di Natale who nodded in from close range.
Shevchenko menace
The forward had the next chance for Italy too, after Vincenzo Iaquinta
led a three-on-one attack, but his header was too weak and Olexandr Shovkovskiy
made an easy save. Shevchenko had not wasted all his energy in the first
period and he continued to inspire the hosts' bid for an equaliser. He
charged down Andrea Barzagli's clearance but could not guide the ball
past Buffon with just the goalkeeper to beat.
Counterattack winner
It was only a matter of time before he did eventually break through and
after 71 minutes he swivelled to sweep a loose ball past Buffon as the
Italy defence failed to clear a corner. But with a rare counterattack,
Di Natale struck the decisive blow with 13 minutes remaining. Massimo
Ambrosini chipped the ball over the Ukraine rearguard to send Di Natale
free and he maintained his composure to place the ball calmly into the
net and secure the points.
,
12 September 2007
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