Rossi double fires Italy to victory over U.S.

PRETORIA, (Reuters) – Guiseppe Rossi set aside the  mixed emotions of playing against the country of his birth to  inspire Italy to a 3-1 win over the U.S. in Confederations Cup  Group B on Monday.

The American-born striker fired home a stunning long-range  equaliser just 60 seconds after coming on as a 57th-minute  substitute and confirmed Italy’s triumph with another goal in  stoppage time.

Midfielder Daniel de Rossi banished bitter memories of his  last encounter against the Americans with a spectacular shot in  the 72nd minute as the Italians swamped their 10-man opponents  in the second half.

The Americans had taken the lead just before the interval  through a Landon Donovan penalty but were fighting a rearguard  action after midfielder Ricardo Clark was sent off in the 33rd  minute.

Rossi, who left New Jersey aged 12 to play for Parma, made  an immediate impact when he won the ball in midfield before  unleashing a swerving shot past American goalkeeper Tim Howard.

De Rossi’s shot 15 minutes later came from even further out  and again gave Howard little chance.
He celebrated with an elaborate dive into his own dug-out,  in stark contrast to the ugly scenes when he received a  four-match ban at the last World Cup in 2006 for elbowing  American strike Brian McBride.

“That was a pretty bad blow but this time was lot  different,” De Rossi told reporters.
Rossi struck again four minutes into stoppage time after  Andrea Pirlo dragged the ball back into his path.
American coach Bob Bradley was asked how he felt about  conceding two goals to a player born in the U.S.
“I have known him since he was 10 years old,” he said. “We  had hoped he would play for us. He is a very talented young  player and today is a very exciting day for him and a very  disappointing one for us.”

The Italians, wearing a replica of their 1934 World Cup-  winning kit with sky blue tops and burgundy shorts and  stockings, rode roughshod over their tiring opponents in the  second half.

Tall striker Vincenzo Iaquinta was guilty of several misses  and substitute Luca Toni wasted a golden opportunity three  minutes from time.
The Americans scuffed two excellent first-half chances, both  set up by the pace of Donovan. The first Michael Bradley tamely  hit at Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and the second was  missed by Jozi Altidore.

Altidore did win a penalty in the 41st minute after being  tugged to the ground by Giorgio Chiellini. Donovan sent Buffon  the wrong way as the Americans sought their first win over Italy  in 10 attempts.

Clark’s red card came after a lunging tackle on Gennaro  Gattuso in the 33rd minute, although it seemed a harsh decision  by Chilean referee Pablo Pozo.
Italy next play Egypt and the U.S. face Brazil on Thursday.