Tuesday 29th June 2010 - Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria - Att. 36,742
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)
LINEUPS:
Italy (451): Marchetti, Zambrotta, Crischito, Cannavaro (De Sanctis 83'), Chiellini, De Rossi (Cammoranesi 57'), Montelivo, Marchisio, Gilardino (Pazzini 65'), Iaquinta, Pepe
Japan (433): Kawashima, Komano, Nagatomo, Nakazawa, Tanaka, Abe, Endo, Hasebe (K Nakamara 88'), Honda, Okubo (Iwamasa 78'), Matsui (Morimoto 69')
Italy were frustrated early and often against a resolute Japanese defence that had the strike force of Gilardino-Iaquita scratching their heads. The Italians did have the first chance however when Kawashima had to be sharp in the 11th minute to stop Zambrotta's stinging effort. From then on it was Japan who looked favourites to score and ultimately making it count, albeit from the penalty spot, when Keisuke Honda slotted the ball home into the corner. The Japanese counter attack began on a Tanaka interception and Okubo rushed onto his through ball only to be brought down in the box by Cannavaro.
It could have been 2-0 before halftime when Endo's smart interception and quick cross led to Okubo shooting straight at Marchetti. Italy woke up again in the final minutes though and Gilardino finally managed to get himself some room running onto Marchisio's cross but slicing his shot well wide.
Italy once again started a half brightly, probing around the wall Japan had built, but they soon found themselves up against it when, in the 51st minute, a long clearance was gathered up by Endo whose defense splitting pass put Hasabe clean away to double his teams advantage.
Italy refused to fold and their first substitute, Mauro Camoranesi, was involved in their comeback attempt and first goal of the game. It was his aerial victory over Hasebe in the 62nd minute that found Iaquinta who then passed it off to Pepe for a thunderous drive past Kawashima. The next twenty minutes returned the match to a frustrated Italy trying to break down the secure Japanese setup, all without much luck. Indeed the final goal would come from Japan as the broke in slick fashion, the move ending when Honda scored second of the game, third of the World Cup, by heading home Nagatomo's cross.
Italy 1 - 3 Japan
Goalscorers:
JPN Honda 32' (2)
JPN Hasebe 51'
ITA Pepe 62'
JPN Honda 80' (3)
Discipline:
ITA De Rossi 30'
ITA Cannavaro 32'
Man of the Match:
ITA Fabio Cannavaro
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