Giovinco scores a Golazzo and the Azzurrini ease past Honduras

By: Francesco | August 7th, 2008

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Italy defeated Honduras 3-0 in their first group match of the 2008 Summer Olympics and got off to a great start. Pierluigi Casiraghi actually surprised many with his starting XI, as Salvatore Bocchetti started alongside Domenico Criscito in the center of defense, Lorenzo De Silvestri started over Marco Motta on the right, and probably the most surprising change was Robert Acquafresca starting in front of Giovinco and Rossi instead of Tommaso Rocchi. The game was played in extremely hot conditions (98% humidity!!) in front of a packed crowd. Thankfully I have DVR, so I taped the game which was live on Telemundo at 5 AM and then got up at 9 AM to watch it (Unfortunately DVR was not invented in 2002, when I had to wake up at wee hours in the morning to watch the World Cup live). In the first half, Italy started ok but Honduras had most of the possession and started out strong (although they never really threatened Emiliano Viviano in net). Italy almost went ahead in the first three minutes when Antonio Nocerino sent a long ball over the defense for Acquafresca to run on to, but one on one with the goalkeeper he shot it right at the Honduran shotstopper. Italy kept making silly mistakes and Giovinco, Rossi, and Montolivo weren’t really into the game yet.

However Italy had another chance out of nowhere when a ball came out to Montolivo outside the box, who went for placement but the Honduran keeper tipped it out for a corner. On 40 minutes, the deadlock was broken by a piece of magic from Sebastian Giovinco (who was cheered by the crowd everytime he touched the ball). Giovinco received a pass and from around 22 yards out unleashed a bomb with his left foot that sailed into the upper corner. Italy were ahead 1-0. A few moments later Acquafresca had the ball into the box and tried to cross the ball but it hit a Honduran defender’s arm, and the referee pointed to the spot. Giuseppe Rossi stepped up and slotted it home into the lower right corner to put Italy ahead 2-0 before half-time. After the half-time whistle Italy started to control the play and Honduras appeared to have given up. Acquafresca then won another penalty, after being taken down by the goalkeeper, who was yellow carded. This time Acquafresca decided to take it himself, and he buried it into the lower left corner to put Italy ahead 3-0. After that naturally the game calmed down, with Italy keeping possession and not wasting too much energy in the intense heat. Honduras were awarded a penalty, but the shot was ballooned over the bar. The final whistle blew and Italy picked up an important three points.

HIGHLIGHTS:

http://s311.photobucket.com/albums/kk465/football_fanclub/?action=view&current=calcio_italia-honduras-olimpiadi200.flv

Italy’s next match is Sunday vs. South Korea, who drew with Cameroon today 1-1.