Ten-man Uruguay stun Italy

Sebastian Fernandez scored the only goal of the game as Uruguay stunned Italy with a smash-and-grab 1-0 win in Rome yesterday.

In a game that had seven bookings and a red card for the visitors, Italy dominated for long spells but lacked the cutting edge their opponents found inside the first three mintues.

It was Italy coach Cesare Prandelli’s third defeat in a friendly since taking over the role 18 months ago, although he has remained unbeaten in competitive fixtures and his team qualified easily for the Euro 2012.

Italy almost got off to a dream start in the opening minute but Mario Balotelli flicked his shot straight into Fernando Muslera’s grasp from Pablo Osvaldo’s through ball.

And the hosts paid for that two minutes later as former Juventus full-back Martin Caceres crossed from the right and Fernandez’s bobbled finish found its way into the net despite the attentions of four ball-watching Italy defenders.

From then on Italy took total control, threatening mostly down the right.

Riccardo Montolivo and Balotelli both hit efforts from outside the box that were too close to Muslera.

Osvaldo came closest for Italy but his header from an Andrea Pirlo corner went inches wide.

At the start of the second period Napoli hot-shot Edinson Cavani forced Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon into a low save with a header while Azzurri substitute Simone Pepe had a crisp near-post effort that Muslera got down.

Italy’s best spell came in the last quarter hour when Federico Balzaretti burst forward down the left, played a one-two with De Rossi but then scuffed his volleyed finish, allowing Muslera to push the ball behind for a corner.

The Portuguese referee Duarte Gomes then unnecessarily sent-off Alvaro Pereira for a second booking, given for a handball the full-back could do nothing about.

England buried their 43-year jinx against Sweden, with an own goal from defender Daniel Majstorovic handing manager Fabio Capello’s side a 1-0 friendly victory at Wembley.

Majstorovic diverted Gareth Barry’s glancing header into his own net on 22 minutes to hand England their first victory over their fellow Euro 2012 qualifiers since 1968.

A match played in front of a 48,876 crowd – the lowest attendance ever recorded since the rebuilt Wembley opened in 2007 – fell flat as Capello made eight changes from the side which defeated world champions Spain on Saturday.

England had dug out a 1-0 win over the Spaniards with a gritty defensive display and Capello had been looking for more evidence of his side’s attacking depth against the Swedes.

But although England largely dominated possession, the match petered out disappointingly in the second half.

Veteran striker Miroslav Klose rolled back the years with a goal and two assists yesterday as Germany hammered Euro 2012 rivals Holland 3-0 in a friendly in Hamburg.

The 33-year-old provided the final pass for Thomas Mueller to give the hosts an early lead against the World Cup finalists before Klose scored his 63rd goal for Germany leaving him just five short of Gerd Mueller’s all-time record.

The Lazio striker then set up Real Madrid’s Mesut Ozil to enjoy a simple tap in on 66 minutes as Germany lay down a marker for June’s Euro 2012 over their neighbours.

Results

Friendlies

Costa Rica 2
Brenes 31; Campbell 44;
Spain 2
Silva 83; Villa 90;

Denmark 2
Agger 57; Bendtner 59;
Finland 1
Eremenko 18;

France 0
Belgium 0

Germany 3
Mueller 15; Klose 26; Ozil 66;
Holland 0

Greece 1
Karagounis 34;
Romania 3
Torje 16; Tanase 61; Chipciu 81;

Italy 0
Uruguay 1
Fernandes 3;

Red card: Pereira (U) 81.

England 1
Majstorovic 22 og;
Sweden 0

Luxembourg 0
Switzerland 1
Xhaka 9;

Poland 2
Brozek 36; Vanczak 86 og;
Hungary 1
Priskin 79;

Slovenia 2
Matavz 26, 61;
US 3
Buddle 9; Dempsey 41; Altidore 43 pen;

Ukraine 2
Milevsky 18; Devic 90;
Austria 1
Kucher 71 og;

Red card: Kucher (U) 81.

World Cup 2014

South America qualifiers

Colombia 1
Pavon 45;
Argentina 2
Messi 61; Aguero 85;

Ecuador 2
Mendez 70; Benitez 89;
Peru 0