Cambiaso scores the opener (©REUTERS/Ciro De Luca)
Cambiaso scores the opener (©REUTERS/Ciro De Luca)

Italy almost drown Belgium, then throw them a lifejacket

Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 11.10.24. | 00:35

Gli Azzurri were 2-0 up inside the opening 25 minutes, but Pellegrini's red card changed everything (2-2)

Italy and Belgium drew 2-2 at Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night in a very entertaining fixture that saw visitors coming back from a two-goal deficit against the ten-man hosts.

An exciting clash provided us with four goals, one red card and dozens of interesting moments on both ends as the match started to unfold literally from the kick-off.

And what a start to the game that was! Dimarco surged down the left-hand side before crossing it to Cambiaso, who found the ball in his possession following an unsuccessful clearance. It was the easiest tap-in possible and a shocking opener after just 59 seconds!

That was Cambiaso's first-ever goal for the national team, and he was close to scoring a brace some 20 minutes later.

He cut inside and fired a low curler, which was denied, but Retegui was there for a rebound, and it was 2-0 for the hosts. Belgium were on the ropes!

However, the game took a totally different direction once Pellegrini was sent off for a reckless tackle on Theate. Firstly, he was only booked, but after the VAR consultancy, the referee decided it was worth a straight red.

And it soon went from bad to worse for Gli Azzurri. A sensational free-kick routine saw De Cuyper in a perfect position near the edge of the box, as he bent it wonderfully with his left into the far bottom corner, 2-1.

The visitors have suddenly found a momentum, and Donnarumma saved the ten-man home side from conceding another before the break.

Alas, after the half-time interval, the tenacious visitors managed to score the second after another perfect example of a set-piece action. Corner found Faes on the far post, as he nodded it down to Trossard on the edge of the six-yard box for the Belgium's equalizer.

UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE A

Thursday

Israel - France 1-4 (1-2)

/Gandelman 24 - Camavinga 6, Nkunku 28, Guendouzi 87, Barcola 89/

Italy - Belgium 2-2 (2-1)

/Cambiaso 1, Retegui 24 - De Cuyper 42, Trossard 61/

Friday

21:45: (5.00) Hungary (4.10) Netherlands (1.65)

21:45: (10.5) B&H (6.75) Germany (1.28)

Saturday

19:00: (1.63) Croatia (3.80) Scotland (5.70)

21:45: (5.50) Poland (3.90) Portugal (1.63)

21:45: (2.65) Serbia (3.25) Switzerland (2.95)

21:45: (1.40) Spain (4.60) Denmark (8.00)

Monday

21:45: (1.65) Germany (3.80) Netherlands (5.40)

21:45: (3.00) Belgium (3.40) France (2.35)

Tuesday

21:45: (5.20) Scotland (3.80) Portugal (1.75)

21:45: (1.30) Spain (5.80) Serbia (12.0)

UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE B

Thursday

England - Greece 1-2 (0-0)

/Bellingham 87 - Pavlidis 49, 90+4/

Finland - R. Ireland 1-2 (1-0)

/Pohjanpalo 17 - Scales 57, Brady 88/

Austria - Kazakhstan 4-0 (1-0)

/Baumgartner 10, Lienhart 53, Sabitzer 56, Seidi 79/

Norway - Slovenia 3-0 (1-0)

/Haaland 7, 62, Sorloth 52/

Friday

21:45: (2.80) Iceland (3.15) Wales (2.65)

21:45: (2.20) Ukraine (3.35) Georgia (3.35)

21:45: (1.32) Turkey (5.10) Montenegro (10.0)

21:45: (1.70) Czech R. (3.80) Albania (5.10)

Sunday

16:00: (5.30) Kazakhstan (3.60) Slovenia (1.70)

19:00: (9.50) Finland (4.90) England (1.35)

21:45: (1.90) Greece (3.35) R.Ireland (4.40)

21:45: (2.20) Austria (3.45) Norway (3.25)

Monday

21:45: (2.25) Ukraine (3.40) Czech R. (3.20)

***odds are subject to change***



tags

ItalyBelgiumUEFA Nations LeagueLuciano Spalletti

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