Balotelli powers Italy to victory
When Mario Balotelli puts his mind to it, he can be unstoppable.
His winning goal in Italy’s 2-1 victory over Mexico at the Confederations Cup proved his class, though he needs to maintain his focus even after scoring such goals.
In the 78th minute on Sunday, Balotelli collected a perfectly lobbed pass from Emanuele Giaccherini and muscled his way between two defenders to break a deadlock in the first official match at the Maracana Stadium.
Much like at last year’s European Championship, when he scored both goals in a 2-1 semi-final win over Germany and pulled off his shirt after one of them, Balotelli reacted by stripping off his jersey to show his muscular physique, earning an automatic yellow card.
If Balotelli picks up another yellow card in Italy’s next match, against Japan, he’ll miss the final group game against host Brazil.
“I didn’t know about this rule with the two yellows,” Balotelli said. “Next time I won’t do it.”
Perhaps worried that he might pick up a second yellow, as in last week’s match against the Czech Republic, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli replaced Balotelli in the 85th with Alberto Gilardino.
“Mario has to stop showing off his muscles. The yellow cards count,” Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. “Anyhow, well done.”
Celebrating his 100th appearance with the national team, Andrea Pirlo had given Italy the lead with one of his trademark free kicks in the 27th. Mexico equalised in the 34th minute, when Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez converted a penalty kick after Andrea Barzagli tripped Giovani Dos Santos.
In an entertaining Group A match, Italy dominated possession while Mexico relied on counter-attacks, coming close when Andres Guardado hit the crossbar in the 11th.
“We knew we had to contain them and try to control the ball in the midfield,” Mexico coach Jose Manuel De la Torre said. “But they were in better physical condition and ultimately that made the difference.”
Italy moved level with Brazil on three points in the group after the hosts beat Japan 3-0 in the tournament opener Saturday.
The Azzurri had not impressed in their last two matches, drawing with both the Czech Republic in a World Cup qualifier and with Haiti upon arriving in Brazil earlier this week, but Pirlo and Balotelli made the difference this time. For his 13th goal for Italy, Pirlo curled a spinning shot over Mexico’s wall into the top left corner after Balotelli earned the foul that set up the dead-ball shot from 30 meters (yards) out. Mexico’s equaliser came after Barzagli let Dos Santos get by him to set up Hernandez’s 33rd goal in 51 appearances for Mexico.
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