AGENCIES
RECIFE: First-half goals
from Pedro and Roberto Soldado were enough to give Spain a 2-1 victory
over Uruguay in their Group B opener here while Mario Balotelli struck a
77th-minute winner as Italy began their campaign with 2-1 victory over
Mexico in the Confederations Cup.
Luiz Suarez scored a late consolation for Uruguay but the World and European champions dominated the game from start to finish and could easily have won by more. Fabregas, Pedro and Andres Iniesta all came close in the first quarter of an hour before a 20th minute corner was knocked out of the Uruguay box as far as Pedro whose fierce shot was deflected by Diego Lugano past a helpless Fernando Muslera.
The goal roused Uruguay and they came close with an Edinson Cavani header before Iniesta and Fabregas orchestrated Spain’s second with Iniesta dragging defenders one way and Fabregas’ instead passed to Soldado who coolly slotted home. Uruguay picked up a late consolation when Liverpool striker Luis Suarez curled home a free kick two minutes from time.
At Maracana, Balotelli scored the winner and Andrea Pirlo, capping a majestic 100th international appearance by scoring with a 30-metre free kick, provided the inspiration to Italy.
Pirlo’s goal was entirely worthy of the hallowed Maracana, which provided the perfect stage as he became the fifth Italian to reach a century of full internationals. The 34-year-old brought the fickle and notoriously difficult-to-please Maracana crowd to its feet as he curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner in the 27th minute from distance.
The crowd chanted Pirlo’s name before and after the goal, the rarest honour for a foreign player on a stage previously graced by the likes of Garrincha, Pele, Zico and Romario. Balotelli’s goal was more about power as he latched on to Emanuele Giaccherini’s flicked pass, barged past defender Francisco Rodriguez and fired the ball past Jose Corona with 12 minutes to go.
Javier Hernandez had replied for Mexico with a penalty seven minutes after Pirlo’s masterpiece. Balotelli, whose notorious temper had been bubbling under the surface for most of the second half, took his shirt off in celebration, earning a yellow card and a reprimand from his coach.
“He wanted to take his shirt off and show his muscles, but all the yellow cards count,” said Prandelli, who had suspended Balotelli for indiscipline with former club Manchester City.
“But he played well and didn’t let anyone get to him. He was attentive for the whole game and has shown strength of character.” The defeat heaped more pressure on Mexico’s under-fire coach Jose Manuel de la Torre, whose team have been held to draws at home by Costa Rica, Jamaica and the United States in World Cup qualifying.
Luiz Suarez scored a late consolation for Uruguay but the World and European champions dominated the game from start to finish and could easily have won by more. Fabregas, Pedro and Andres Iniesta all came close in the first quarter of an hour before a 20th minute corner was knocked out of the Uruguay box as far as Pedro whose fierce shot was deflected by Diego Lugano past a helpless Fernando Muslera.
The goal roused Uruguay and they came close with an Edinson Cavani header before Iniesta and Fabregas orchestrated Spain’s second with Iniesta dragging defenders one way and Fabregas’ instead passed to Soldado who coolly slotted home. Uruguay picked up a late consolation when Liverpool striker Luis Suarez curled home a free kick two minutes from time.
At Maracana, Balotelli scored the winner and Andrea Pirlo, capping a majestic 100th international appearance by scoring with a 30-metre free kick, provided the inspiration to Italy.
Pirlo’s goal was entirely worthy of the hallowed Maracana, which provided the perfect stage as he became the fifth Italian to reach a century of full internationals. The 34-year-old brought the fickle and notoriously difficult-to-please Maracana crowd to its feet as he curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner in the 27th minute from distance.
The crowd chanted Pirlo’s name before and after the goal, the rarest honour for a foreign player on a stage previously graced by the likes of Garrincha, Pele, Zico and Romario. Balotelli’s goal was more about power as he latched on to Emanuele Giaccherini’s flicked pass, barged past defender Francisco Rodriguez and fired the ball past Jose Corona with 12 minutes to go.
Javier Hernandez had replied for Mexico with a penalty seven minutes after Pirlo’s masterpiece. Balotelli, whose notorious temper had been bubbling under the surface for most of the second half, took his shirt off in celebration, earning a yellow card and a reprimand from his coach.
“He wanted to take his shirt off and show his muscles, but all the yellow cards count,” said Prandelli, who had suspended Balotelli for indiscipline with former club Manchester City.
“But he played well and didn’t let anyone get to him. He was attentive for the whole game and has shown strength of character.” The defeat heaped more pressure on Mexico’s under-fire coach Jose Manuel de la Torre, whose team have been held to draws at home by Costa Rica, Jamaica and the United States in World Cup qualifying.
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