Antonio Cassano-Led Comeback Earns Italy 2-1 Win In Estonia

The last two years of problems for the Azzurri nearly gained a whole new perspective on Friday, with Italy falling behind in Estonia after 31 minutes.  The hosts would take that lead into halftime before Antonio Cassano and Leonardo Bonucci saved Italy, giving the favorites a 2-1 win.

The victory was Italy's first of 2010.

Estonia's goal was a result of a poorly handled free kick by Italy goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. Playing for injured captain Gianluigi Buffon, expected to be out for at least two more months, Sirigu coughed-up Konstantin Vassilijev's free kick in the 31st minute. Sergi Zenjov converted the rebound to give the hosts a surprise lead.

That set the stage for Cassano's vindication. Excluded under previous coach Marcello Lippi, Cassano reaffirmed his value with the tying goal before setting up the winner. The tying goal was a headed conversion of an Andrea Pirlo corner kick, with the second also resulting from Cassano's play from a corner.

Goals:

31' - Sergei Zenjov 1

60' - Antonio Cassano 1

63' - Leonardo Bonucci 1

Discipline:

55' - Martin Vunk (Yellow)

85' - Ragnar Klavan (Yellow)

90' - Raio Piiroja (Yellow)

Lineups:

Estonia: Pareiko, Klavan, Piiroja, Jaager, Rahn, Kruglov (Kink 82'), Dmitrijev, Puri (Purje 77'), Vink, Vassilijev, Zenjov (Saag 64')

Italy: Sirigu, Bonucci, Cassani, Molinaro, Chiellini, De Rossi, Pirlo, Montolivo (Palombo 75'), Pepe (Quagliarella 61'), Cassano (Antonelli 80;), Pazzini

Goals

1

Leonardo Bonucci, Italy
Antonio Cassano, Italy
Joan Simun Edmundsson, Faroe Islands
Danko Lazokic, Serbia
Raio Piiroja, Estonia
Kaimar Saag, Estonia
Dejan Stankovic, Serbia
Nikola Zigic, Serbia
Sergei Zenjov, Estonia