Dutch strike late to draw with 10-man Italy

With most countries preparing for their World Cup campaigns, this game always had a slightly different feel to it as the two big-name absentees from this summer's tournament faced off in Turin.

The game was a fine example of 'a game of two hlaves', with Italy clearly on top in the opening 45 and the Dutch dominating after the restart.

Torino's Andrea Belotti had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR after just three minutes as the hosts came racing out of the blocks. Belotti quickly became embroiled in a battle with Virgil Van Dijk and that may have got to him as he spurned a great chance by firing straight at Jasper Cillessen.

Italy continued to have all the ball and all the chances as the break approached, with Domenico Criscito seeing a header from a Giacomo Bonaventura corner headed off the line just two minutes before half-time.

The visitros remerged reengergised after the break, with Darryl Janmaat seeing a deflected cross loop onto the roof of the net, before Memphis Depay headed a cross from the Wafrod man straight at Mattia Perin.

However, with 66 minutes gone, it was the hosts who took the lead against the run of play.

Federico Chiesa was set away down the right and Simone Zaza threw himself at his low cross to give the 'Azzurri' the lead.

Joy turned to despair almost immediately though as Criscito was given his marching orders for scything down Ryan Babel as last man, with Depay seeing an effort from the resulting free-kick well saved.

It looked like Holland would end the game frustrated when Steven Burghuis' curler was parried to safety by Perin with a little more than 10 minutes to go, but there was one late twist in the tale.

Burghuis was given far too much space to curl in a cross, with Ake rising at the far post to nod home a simple finish to secure his side a draw with his first goal for the 'Oranje'.

 

June 4, 2018