Pirlo dan Balotelli Menangkan Italia, Tekuk Meksiko 2-1
Pirlo and Balotelli Power Italy to Win, Beat Mexico 2-1
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
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MARIO Balotelli mencetak gol kemenangan bagi Italia setelah Andrea Pirlo mengawali kemenangan melalui tendangan bebas yang menakjubkan sebagai gol ke-100 untuk tim nasional Italia dari Grup A Piala Konfederasi.
Balotelli melakukan gerakan akrobatik dari umpan Emanuele Giaccherini di babak kedua melalui dua bek Meksiko dari laga resmi Italia di kompetisi internasional di Stadion Maracana yang telah direnovasi.
Man-of-the-match Pirlo memberi Italia memimpin kemenangan dengan tendangan bebas menakjubkan di menit ke-27, menyentuh bola dan lepas dari jangkauan kiper Meksiko, Jose de Jesus Corona.
Striker Manchester United Javier ´Chicharito´ Hernandez mencetak gol dari kotak penalti enam menit kemudian, untuk memberi peluang Meksiko menyamakan kedudukan setelah Andrea Barzagli mengganjal mantan gelandang Tottenham, Giovani Dos Santos di kotak penalti, seperti dilansir Mail Online.
Tapi Balotelli merampas kemenangan untuk Italia berkat naluri alamiahnya, melepas kausnya untuk merayakan golnya sehingga mendapat kartu kuning dari wasit.
Italia kini sejajar dengan Brasil dengan perolehan tiga poin di grup setelah mengalahkan tuan rumah Jepang 3-0 di turnamen pembuka Sabtu.
Azzurri tidak tampil mengesankan dalam dua laga terakhir mereka, dua kali bermain seri dengan Republik Ceko di kualifikasi Piala Dunia dan dengan Haiti setelah tiba di Brasil awal pekan ini, tetapi Pirlo dan Balotelli membuat perbedaan saat ini.
MARIO Balotelli scored the winner for Italy after Andrea Pirlo had earned the lead through a stunning free-kick on his 100th cap for the national side in Group A of the Confederations Cup.
Balotelli collected a perfectly placed acrobatic pass from Emanuele Giaccherini 12 minutes from time and muscled in between two defenders before striking to hand Italy the win in the first official match at the renovated Maracana Stadium.
Man-of-the-match Pirlo had given Italy the lead with a stunning trademark free-kick in the 27th minute, dipping the ball just out of the reach of Mexico keeper Jose de Jesus Corona.
Manchester United striker Javier ´Chicharito´ Hernandez converted a penalty six minutes later to give Mexico an equaliser after Andrea Barzagli tripped former Tottenham midfielder Giovani Dos Santos in the box.
Hernandez is on course to better the Mexico record of 42 goals held by former great Jared Borgetti.
But Balotelli won the spoils for Italy with his instinctive strike, ripping his shirt off in celebration to earn himself a yellow card.
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.
