Italy kick off with win

Italy kick off with win
Andrea Pirlo and Vincenzo Iaquinta both found the net as Italy began their Group E campaign with a 2-0 win over Ghana. Milan midfielder Pirlo bent a fierce low shot into the bottom corner six minutes before the interval, before sub Iaquinta sealed the win with a late strike.

Ratomir Dujkovic's African first-time qualifiers gave a fine account of themselves, with captain Stephen Appiah and Michael Essien energetic presences in midfield.
But while Marcello Lippi's line-up struggled with the Ghanaians' athleticism, the talent in the feet of Pirlo and Francesco Totti, and the presence of Luca Toni in the final third provided the Azzurri with the edge.

Serie A top scorer Toni answered questions whether he could bring his domestic form onto the international stage with a bullying performance that had everything but a goal.

The Fiorentina forward crashed a fine effort off the underside of the bar in a sparky first half, while playmaker Totti twice stung the hands of erratic Ghana keeper Richard Kingston with fierce long-range efforts.
But it was a touch of Pirlo class that provided the breakthrough.
Totti's quickly-taken short corner caught Ghana sleeping - their failure to close down Pirlo criminally negligent and they were made to pay as the ball pierced a packed penalty area to arrow into the net.
TOTTI SCARE

Alberto Gilardino - a disappointingly peripheral figure - burst into life and almost added a second five minutes after the break only for Kingston to make a fine stop with his feet.
Essien then forced Azzurri stopper Gigi Buffon into a plunging save with a dipping half-volley, and Lippi's heart will have skipped a beat as Totti crumpled under a challenge before the hour.
The Roma captain - recently back to form after a leg break - was immediately withdrawn, but his presence on the bench until the end of the game suggests it was caution rather than the severity of any injury which forced Lippi's hand.
Kingston again kept his side in the game as he parried Simone Perrotta's close-range blast, while at the other end, Italy survived two penalty shouts as the livewire Asamoah Gyan wreaked havoc.
But class finally told and Kingston was left exposed after experienced defender Sammy Kuffour left a backpass short to allow Iaquinta in to round the keeper and slot the ball into the empty net.
"I'm delighted with the result. Our opponents showed themselves to be as strong as we thought they would be," said Lippi. "Under certain aspects they were better than us. But I think overall we deserved to win."

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