Italy’s midfielder Claudio Marchisio (left) celebrates with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon after he stopped Uruguay’s midfielder Walter Gargano’s penalty in the penalty shoot-out which won the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 third-place football match for Italy, at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador, yesterday. RIGHT: Italy team members and officials celebrate.
SALVADOR DE BAHIA, Brazil: Italy took third place at the Confederations Cup yesterday after beating Uruguay 3-2 on penalties, the pair having been locked at 2-2 following extra time in Salvador.
Although the eyes of 200 million Brazilians were fixed on an evening final between the hosts and world champions Spain, Italian and Uruguayan fans converged on the northern city for the bronze medal which Italy carried off after skipper Gianluigi Buffon saved spot-kicks from Diego Forlan, Martin Caceres and Walter Gargano.
Despite the early afternoon heat both sides turned in an entertaining contest as the Italians, edged out in the semi-finals by Spain – also on penalties – came past rivals who had bowed to the Brazilians in their semi.
Alessandro Diamanti looked to have won the game in normal time at the Arena Fonte Nova stadium when he swept in a curling free-kick just inside Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera’s left-hand post in the 73rd minute.
But Edinson Cavani crashed in a stunning free-kick of his own with 12 minutes remaining of normal time to level at 2-2. The extra half hour could not separate the sides and so the 12-yard test decided the contest.
Forlan fluffed the first kick and though Cavani and Luis Suarez netted it was not enough as Alberto Aquilani, Stephan El Shaarawy and Emanuele Giaccherini found the net.
In a contest between countries who shared out the first four World Cups Italy, who have since netted two more, drew first blood on 24 minutes when Davide Astori poked in from point blank range after Muslera had deflected another dangerous Diamanti free-kick onto the woodwork.
But Uruguay were level just before the hour mark with a neat Cavani strike on the run, the Napoli forward stroking a left-footer low past Buffon.
Cavani had already by that stage seen a firm header chalked off for offside.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli was able to field Alberto Gilardino despite his picking up a knock against Spain, the Bologna man starting in a two-pronged attack alongside exciting Milan star El Shaarawy.
Uruguay, who led their series with the Azzurri 3-2 coming into yesterday’s game, are struggling to find their form in Latin American qualifying for next year’s World Cup.
