Euro 2000 - Group B - Italy 2 Turkey 1

Italy overcame nerves and a good first half display by Turkey win 2-1 in Arnhem thanks to a disputed penalty from Filippo Inzaghi in the 67th minute.

Italy now join co hosts Belgium at the top of Group B but needed a controversial winner after Turkey had drawn level with all the goals coming in the second half.

Inzaghi was awarded a penalty by Scottish referee Hugh Dallas when he appeared to only play the ball forward and run into a defender before falling to the ground. Turkish fans behind the goal showed their opinion of Dallas by throwing objects into the goal mouth and Rustu Recber almost saved the low kick from the Juve striker but it just passed under his hand to go into the net.

The award by Dallas rescued Italy as the Turks seemed ready to take charge of the second half as they had in a poor first half.

Italian goalkeeper Francesco Toldo - standing in for the injured Gianluigi Buffon - failed to reach a 60th minute free kick in the centre of his goal allowing Okun the time and space to head the ball down into the net and set Italian nerves on edge.

Inzaghi had the chance to win the game in the 57th minute when he reacted to a Francesco Totti header against the post from a free kick to the far post but he could get no power behind the shot and it was cleared off the line.

Rustu had to turn away shots by Zambrotta and a free kick from substitute Alessandro Del Piero after Italy had taken the lead and only a shot from Abdullah in the 79th minute came close to troubling goalkeeper Toldo but he gathered the ball to his chest.

Inzaghi screwed a shot wide in the 80th minute when he ran clear of the defence and forced a save from Rustu in the 64th minute in a similar move down the left hand side but it was a disappointing display by Italy and Turkey were unlucky to concede the first goal in the 51st minute.

Antonio Conte reacted first to a poor clearance and did an over head kick off his shin high into the net for a very lucky goal.

The Italians now have the win they needed to gain confidence and improve a little while Turkey know that they dominated the latter stages of the first half in terms of possession without creating a definite chance for star striker Hakan Sukur.

Italy face Belgium in their next game while the two defeated teams from the opening round - Turkey and Sweden - meet in Eindhoven.