World champions Italy joined Brazil at the top of Group B after coming from behind to beat 10-man United States 3-1 in an electric Confederations Cup encounter here yesterday.
World champions Italy joined Brazil at the top of Group B after coming from behind to beat 10-man United States 3-1 in an electric Confederations Cup encounter here yesterday.
Landon Donovan (41st min) put the States into the lead only for the Azzurri to hit back after the break with
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goals from New York-born substitute Giuseppe Rossi (58th, 90th mins) and Daniele De Rossi (72nd min).
"I've known the Rossi family a long time, Giuseppe's dad coached high school soccer in New Jersey. I hoped that he would have played for us but he made his decision."
Italy coach Marcello Lippi too dwelled on his star substitute's birthplace, smiling: "I was certainly happy tonight Giuseppe was Italian and not American."
Lippi was without injured World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro.