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World Cup Qualifier - 28/3/01
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Italy 4-0 Lithuania
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Inzaghi 16, 63, Del Piero 48, 79
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Nereo Rocco, Trieste (15,000)
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Two goals apiece from Alex Del Piero and Pippo Inzaghi gave Italy a comfortable 4-0 victory over Lithuania this evening. Serie A rivalries were put aside as Roma stars provided goals for both Juventus forwards in Trieste’s rain-soaked Nereo Rocco Stadium which sees the Azzurri edge closer to World Cup qualification.
Giovanni Trapattoni made tactical changes to accommodate the crucial return of Francesco Totti from suspension, who played just behind Juve front two Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi.
The absence through injury of Demetrio Albertini also prompted a new-look midfield. Stefano Fiore was dropped in favour of the more defensive Alessio Tacchinardi, while Francesco Coco replaced Giuseppe Pancaro on the flank.
The first chance of the evening fell to the visitors as Poskus beat Fabio Cannavaro on the break but Gianluigi Buffon was quick to dive down and block his path to goal. Totti and Del Piero combined well and he set up the Roma star’s swerving drive from the edge of the box, but ‘keeper Stauce palmed it out.
Italy broke the deadlock when Inzaghi sprung the offside trap and fired an angled drive into the far corner, but it was Totti who deserved the majority of praise after his inspirational soaring pass.
Alessandro Del Piero completed his impressive display for his country this week by getting his name on the scoresheet. Totti was once more the goal-provider as the Juventus forward nodded in his free kick to double Italy’s lead early in the second half.
It was this goal that re-energised Trap’s men and ignited the desire to give the crowd an entertaining show. Inzaghi’s header was deflected wide after a very impressive Del Piero run on the left flank, then a desperate defence cleared another Del Piero solo effort.
Then Tacchinardi went close with a fierce shot before a Totti free kick from 30 yards flew just wide. The chorus of chances was completed when Totti set up Del Piero but the ‘keeper parried his shot and Inzaghi pounced on the loose ball to make it 3-0.
Roma’s in-form striker Vincenzo Montella was given his chance to shine and within two minutes had brought a magnificent save out of the ‘keeper with his dipping strike. Montella’s snaking run then set up Del Piero to tap in his second from close range.
Giovanni Trapattoni commented: "How could you not be satisfied with this performance, but after the 1-0 we relaxed a bit too much and simplified our game. The excessive desire to score made us make too many mistakes, but as soon as we got back to thinking about our play it all came together. You must always have motivation at international level and the boys showed tonight that they had it." |
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Italy: Buffon; Cannavaro, Nesta, Maldini; Zambrotta, Tacchinardi, Tommasi, Coco; Totti (Fiore 74); Inzaghi (Montella 68), Del Piero (Di Livio 81)
Lithuania: Stauce; Zvirgzdauskas, Skarbalius, Joksas, Dziaukstas; Zutautas, Mikalajunas (Jankauskas 65), Morinas, Razanauskas (Danilevicious 50); Semberas, Poskus (Stankevicius 77)
Ref: Shmolik (Belarus)
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