International friendly: Italy held to a 2-2 draw with Nigeria at Craven Cottage

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International friendly: Italy held to a 2-2 draw with Nigeria at Craven Cottage

International friendly: Italy held to a 2-2 draw with Nigeria at Craven Cottage

 Italy were control to a 2-2 draw by African country in weekday night\'s international friendly at Craven house.

Giuseppe Rossi place European nation ahead too soon however African country hit back with 2 goals in 5 minutes before half-time, Bright Dike levelling before metropolis striker Shola Ameobi place the African Nations Cup champions ahead.

However, Sunderland forward Emanuele Giaccherini equalized for European nation within the forty seventh minute because the clash finished 2-2.

Both groups had their share of possibilities to win the sport however were denied by nice goalkeeping.

Substitute Alessandro Diamanti came nearest to snatching a decider for European nation however saw his free-kick hit the crossbar 5 minutes from time.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli had demanded a powerful performance from his players in what was his fiftieth game responsible of the Azzurri.

Despite the result - Italy\'s fourth consecutive draw - his players delivered ahead of a crowd of fifteen,000.

Nigeria went into the competition recent from qualifying for his or her fifth tournament finals and well-tried worthy opponents.

As expected, Prandelli fielded associate experimental defence with goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu taking Gianluigi Buffon\'s place.

Rossi, WHO incomprehensible  last week\'s friendly draw against European country with a fever, partnered Mario Balotelli in attack.

Only four players that started in Saturday\'s tournament play-off success over Yaltopya were enclosed in Stephen Keshi\'s beginning line-up.

The African champions had the primary likelihood of the sport within the third minute once Victor Moses\' 30-yard free-kick went wide, however it absolutely was European nation WHO took the lead through Rossi\'s 11th-minute strike.

Balotelli started Rossi within the box and also the former Manchester United striker\'s left-footed strike beat African country goalkeeper Austine Ejide.

Nigeria nearly equalized within the thirteenth minute once Sirigu was forced at full stretch to show away Ogenyi Onazi\'s bullet strike from outside the realm.

Italy ought to have doubled their lead midway through the primary 0.5 however Riccardo Montolivo laid-off wide from a decent position.

Balotelli then incomprehensible  a golden likelihood before the unit of time mark once he didn\'t beat Ejide on a one-on-one.

It well-tried pricey as African country equalized within the thirty fifth minute once Dike headed Ameobi\'s cross past a helpless Sirigu.

The African aspect went ahead 5 minutes later.

A fast break from African country shocked Italy\'s defence and saw Ameobi get on the tip of Francis Benjamin\'s cross from the left and strike the ball past Sirigu to silence the Italian supporters.

Before half-time, Balotelli vie a one-two with Rossi and his right-footed strike was unbroken out by Ejide.

Italy histrion level early within the last half once Antonio Candreva noticed associate unmarked Giaccherini within the left aspect of the box and his left-footed shot beat Ejide.

Before the hour mark, Ejide created an important save to deny substitute Andrea Pirlo\'s curled free-kick before the African country goalkeeper was forced out of the action shortly once through injury, with Vincent Enyeama taking his place.

Italy continuing to press forward and Balotelli\'s right-footed shot went simply wide.

Sirigu was then forced to palm over the bar a goal-bound strike from substitute John Ogu as African country sought-after to travel back ahead.

With twelve minutes remaining, Christian Maggio\'s dangerous cross towards the way post found associate unmarked Balotelli, however the forward affected the ball poorly in what well-tried to be a frustrating evening for the previous Manchester moneyman.

Diamanti then nearly snatched the winner however African country, WHO like European nation went through tournament qualifying undefeated, prevailed for the draw.
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