Nations League: Lorenzo Pellegrini sent off, Italy rematched by Belgium
Nations League: Lorenzo Pellegrini sent off, Italy remounted by Belgium
Italy dominates for 40 minutes in the third Nations League match, goes up 2-0, then Lorenzo Pellegrini gets sent off and Belgium comes back and draws: at the Olympic Stadium in Rome it ends 2-2.
As expected, coach Spalletti confirms the eleven that beat France and after 61 seconds Italy è already in the lead: combination in speed; Dimarco-Tonali-Dimarco, the Inter lateral puts in the middle of the area where there’s Cambiaso, the ball rebounds on De Cuyper who was trying to anticipate and the Juventino repeats in the goal.
On 6’ Bastoni for Frattesi, Casteels comes out wrong, the interista sends back into the middle where Theate providentially anticipates Retegui. At 20’ Belgium showed it was there with a personal action by Doku, whose left è deflected into a corner. On 24’ the double of the Azzurri: sensational opening from side to side by Dimarco for Cambiaso who from the right converges and shoots left-footed, Casteels rejects but where there’è Retegui who deposits in the net despite a new attempt to parry Casteels.
On the half’hour another great Dimarco-Tonali-Dimarco combination, cross for Retegui’s diving header, on the bottom. But at 40’ Pellegini knocks Theate down from behind and Norwegian referee Eskas, after consultation at VAR, rightly changes the card for the Roma player initially yellow to red.
In 42’ Belgium shortened the distance: on the development of the free kick great left turn low and winning at the edge of the post by De Cuyper on the touch of Trossard. On 43’ after a counterattack by Dimarco and wrong header by Retegui Cambiaso tries a left-footed shot that ends up wide. At 45’ Mangala tries, Donnarumma blocks easily. Italy in ten ends the first half in pain but after more than two minutes of recovery goes to rest in the lead.
Resume. At 48’ Bastoni’s throw deep for Frattesi who sends his left footer high from a good position. At 62’ the equalizer: from a corner kick, header at the first post by Faes for Trossard who turns the net fulminating Donnarumma. At 64’ after consulting the VAR incredibly does not give a penalty kick to Belgium despite a foul by Bastoni on Openda, giving only the corner kick to the guests, on which Faes strikes again undisturbed header and this time Donnarumma unravels.
At 72’ Belgium came close to taking the lead with Openda putting wide from two steps after a Doku-De Cuyper combination. At’88’ Frattesi intercepts a Belgian disengagement and shoots, the ball hits Faes, the Azzurri claim a hand foul that there’è not. It ends 2-2 with much regret but Italy remains at the top of Group 2 with 7 points,one ahead of France, which overwhelmed Israel 4-1 in Budapest.
