Ciro Immobile scored a hat-trick to help second-string Italy beat Brazilian club side Fluminense 5-3 in an entertaining World Cup warm-up match played in a festive atmosphere on Sunday.
Lorenzo Insigne scored twice in a lively Italy performance on a difficult, lumpy pitch, though there were question marks over the defense and third-choice goalkeeper Mattia Perin.
A capacity crowd of about 17,000 packed into the Estadio Raulino de Oliveira in the steel town of Volta Redonda, providing fervent support for Fluminense and jeering Italy’s Brazilian-born midfielder Thiago Motta whenever he touched the ball.
Photo: Reuters
“We saw some interesting things and the two boys in attack did very well,” Italy coach Cesare Prandelli told RAI television, referring to forwards Immobile and Insigne.
The pair scored a goal apiece in the first half, but Fluminense, second in the Brazilian championship, pegged Italy back each time through Chiquinho and Carlinhos, whose toe-poked effort slipped through Perrin’s hands.
Immobile then netted twice in as many minutes soon after the break, the second a delightful flicked finish after he was sent clear by Thiago Motta, before Insigne made it 5-2 when he turned in Immobile’s pass from close range.
Matheus Carvalho reduced the arrears with a long-range goal as Prandelli gave several first-choice players, including playmaker Andrea Pirlo and striker Mario Balotelli, a run-out in the final half hour of the match.
Italy were held to a goalless stalemate by the Republic of Ireland and suffered an embarrassing 1-1 draw at home to Luxemburg in their previous two friendlies.
They face England in their FIFA World Cup opener in Manaus on Saturday, before taking on Costa Rica and Uruguay in their other Group D matches.
IRAN 2, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 0
Reuters, SAO PAULO, Brazil
Iran warmed up for their fourth World Cup campaign with a win over Trinidad and Tobago having also missed a penalty in a friendly played behind closed doors on Sunday.
Ehsan Haji Safi scored just before halftime and Reza Ghoochannejhad added the second nine minutes into the second period to boost Iran’s confidence ahead of the finals.
The match took place at the training ground where Iran have been preparing for their Group F games starting with Nigeria on Monday next week, followed by Argentina and Bosnia.
Haji Safi put Iran ahead in stoppage-time at the end of the first half after Trinidad failed to deal with Ashkan Dejagah’s corner from the right.
Six minutes into the second period Iran were awarded a spot-kick after Dejagah was brought down by rightback Justin Hoyte, but Javad Nekounam’s effort was saved by Jan-Michael Williams.
However, three minutes later Ghoochannejhad scored from close range on a counterattack to wrap up a comfortable win before both sides made multiple substitutions.
Iran went into the match after 0-0 draws with Belarus and Montenegro, and a 1-1 result against Angola in warm-up matches in Austria.
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