Italy v Bulgaria - MATCH SUMMARY
Italy out despite last gasp winner
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| Italian forward Antonio Cassano and forward Alessandro Del Piero look dejected, 22 June 2004 at Henriques stadium in Guimaraes, at the end of the Euro 2004 group C football match between Italy and Bulgaria at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Italy is kicked out of the competition despite winning the match 2 to 1. AFP PHOTO Aris MESSINIS |
Italy suffered the ultimate heartbreak on Tuesday as an injury-time goal by Antonio Cassano was enough to beat Bulgaria 2-1 but not good enough to see them through to the Euro 2004 quarter-finals.
The Azzurri's first win of the tournament against the already eliminated Bulgarians was only good enough for a third-placed finish in group C behind Sweden and Denmark, all three on five points.
Italy found themselves eliminated on goals scored in direct matches between the three teams on five points.
Bulgaria, playing only for pride, went ahead just before half-time when Martin Petrov netted a penalty before Simone Perrotta levelled the scores three minutes after the break.
Cassano's stoppage-time goal proved to be only a consolation as the Scandinavians both reached the quarter-finals at the Azzurri's expense after they drew 2-2 in Oporto.
Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni was without three key players because of suspensions - Francesco Totti, Gennaro Gattuso and captain Fabio Cannavaro - while injury robbed him of striker Christian Vieri.
Both teams kept giving possession away in the opening exchanges on a surface made slippery by constant drizzle.
Gripped by fear, the Italians struggled to find any rhythm and their anxiety increased just before half-time when Bulgaria were awarded a penalty.
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| Italian defender Marco Materazzi (R) vies with Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov, 22 June 2004 at Henriques stadium in Guimaraes, during the Euro 2004 group C football match between Italy and Bulgaria at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Dimitar DILKOFF |
Materazzi wrestled Dimitar Berbatov to the floor inside the penalty area and Petrov's coolly slotted spot-kick sent Buffon the wrong way.
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| Italian forward Antonio Cassano (L) and midfielder Gianluca Zambrotta look dejected, 22 June 2004 at Henriques stadium in Guimaraes, at the end of the Euro 2004 group C football match between Italy and Bulgaria at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Italy is kicked out of the competition despite winning the match 2 to 1. AFP PHOTO MLADEN ANTONOV |
A Cassano's thunderbolt hit the underside of the bar on 48 minutes and Zdravkov flapped when the rebound bounced high in the air allowing Simone Perrotta to pounce and prod home the equaliser.
Vieri came on for Corradi to spice up Italy's attack and he almost scored on the hour when his towering header cleared the bar by inches.
Buffon's reflexes denied Berbatov a second goal for Bulgaria before Cassano netted Italy's second.