Injury-time penalty sends Italy through
FT Italy 1 Australia 0
Substitute Francesco Totti scored an injury-time penalty to stun Australia and guide 10-man Italy to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
With the game seemingly looking to be going to extra-time Lucas Neill brought down Fabio Grosso and Totti, who had been on the pitch 15 minutes, fired past goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Marco Materazzi’s sending-off early in the second half for a two-footed tackle on Mark Bresciano looked to have hampered Italy’s chances until Totti’s late intervention.
Australia were failing to take advantage of their numerical superiority as Italy kept their composure in defence and with 15 minutes to go Lippi played his last card.
Bresciano should have given the Aussies a 78th-minute lead but his strike from the edge of the area did not trouble Buffon.
Hiddink made his first substitution 10 minutes from time, with forward John Aloisi coming on for Sterjovski.
But with 30 seconds left to play, Grosso came to the rescue as he surged inside the area only to be brought down by Lucas Neill.
The referee did not hesitate to point to the spot and Totti coolly fired into the roof of the net.
| Related Stories: |
|
