World Cup - Italy 1 Mexico 1

Italy used up all their luck in this game with a late Alessandro Del Piero goal sending them into the second stage.

Outplayed and outthought by a busy Mexican side, substitute Del Piero was on hand in the 85th minute to glance in a header after a hooked cross from the right wing by substitute Vincenzo Montella.

Until that point Italy were going out until Ecuador took the lead against Croatia in the 46th minute to aid them.

Italy were really poor and close to elimination after going behind in the first half but they managed to survive as Mexico – despite dominating possession – could not find the killer second goal.

Word got round that Croatia had lost and the game ended with both teams refusing to play in the 4 minutes of stoppage time as Italy stood off Mexico.

The preceding 90 minutes were thrilling and of very high qualify thanks to Mexico’s great display.

Oscar Perez saved at Filippo Inzaghi’s feet in the 50th minute after a poor first touch for the striker but Jesus Arellano responded by cutting Italy’s defence apart from a run down the left wing that saw him cut inside, play a one-two but hit a weak shot which was cleared off the goal line by Fabio Cannavaro.

The hapless Inzaghi was replaced by Vincenzo Montella and he scored with his second touch in the game but was ruled offside and Mexico responded with Ramon Morales curling a left foot shot from the left wing just over the cross bar.

Alberto Rodriguez hit a shot across the face of goal that clipped the outside of the far post in the 62nd minute and ten minutes later Italy finally managed to get Christian Vieri through on on goal.

But Vieri could not control the ball and it bounced off his knee with Perez saving well.

Mexico were comfortable from the start and took the lead after Italy raised their game for a brief spell of pressure.

The Mexicans kept possession well and brought the ball back down the left wing in the 34th minute for it to reach Cuauhetemoc Blanco and he chipped up into the peanlty area for Jared Borgetti to run across his marker Paolo Maldini and head over Gianluigi Buffon with his back to goal and into the net to stun Italy.

But it was no more than the Mexicans deserved.

For some reason they were allowed to adopt their regular pattern and play they way they know best with Blanco causing real problems by dropping deep and Gerardo Torrado dominating midfield.

Torrado kept especially close to Francesco Totti but lost him for Italy’s best chance of the first half.

The ball was moved across from the right and Filippo Inzaghi turned on the edge of the penalty area to pass Totti into space and running on to target but the S Roma captain shot wide of the far post.

Italy’s three-man defence with the negative inclusion of Christian Panucci in left midfield hampered the European side’s attempts to get back into the game but Christian Vieri had a volley caught by goalkeeper Oscar Perez and on 25 minutes Totti fizzed a free kick from distance low and wide.

Gianluca Zambrotta hit a shot wide from close range in the 40th minute from a knock down by Vieri who was helped by the willing movement of Inzaghi throughout the first half but Mexico were confident enough for centre back Salvador Carmona to advance and play a one-two before striking a clean volley across the face of Buffon’s goal.

Fabio Canavaro needed a last ditch saving tackle to deny Borgetti a second goal when Torrado played him clean through on 43 minutes.