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Baggio makes good on second chance
Late penalty kick helps Italy draw 2-2 with Chile
Posted: Thursday September 17, 1998 08:17 PM
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Baggio's late spot kick brought back memories of World Cup '94 Shaun Botterill/Allsport |
BORDEAUX, France (CNN/SI)
-- Roberto Baggio most assuredly remembered his past history, and he made
certain he did not repeat it. Four years ago, Baggio's last World Cup
penalty kick cleared the crossbar and handed the trophy to Brazil in the
USA '94 final. This time around, he fired in a spot kick six minutes from
the end to salvage a 2-2 draw against Chile Thursday.
The veteran striker, recalled to the Italian lineup at age 31 after
playing only one game for the national team in three years, coolly slotted
the ball past goalkeeper Nelson Tapia from the penalty spot after Ronald
Fuentes' right arm couldn't get out of the way of a Baggio cross.
The dubious penalty touched off irate boos and jeers from thousands of
Chilean fans who outnumbered Italian supporters both in number and
enthusiasm at Bordeaux' Lescure stadium. Chile was leading 2-1
thanks to two stunning strikes by Marcelo Salas, after Christian Vieri had
given Italy a
10th minute lead off a Baggio sideways pass. Baggio's late spot kick
brought back memories of World Cup '94. The former Juventus and AC Milan
star, now moving from Bologna to Inter Milan, carried Italy game after game
in the United
States with his goals, some of them late in the game or in overtime.
But he couldn't hit the target in the penalty shootout that followed a
scoreless final against Brazil in Pasadena. Baggio fired over the top and
Brazil won the title for a record fourth time. "What happened four
years ago doesn't count right now," said Italy's coach, Cesare Maldini. "I
was pleased with the team's reaction and its thirst for a goal."
Italy, playing in all-white, took the lead with a stunning counter-attack
after Ivan Zamorano, who ironically plays for Inter Milan, lost possession
deep in the Italian half. Vieri and Baggio were well advanced with
only two Chilean defenders between them and the goal and the 1994 World Cup
star collected a long through ball from Paolo Maldini. Instead of
heading for goal, Baggio unselfishly slipped the ball sideways to the
better positioned Vieri who slid it home from 15 yards out with his left
foot. Chile, aiming to make the second round for only the second
time in seven attempts, came back into the game strongly and tied the score
in the third minute of first-half injury time. Fabian Estay swung in
a left-wing corner kick, Zamorano powered in a header, Pedro Reyes touched
the ball on and Salas turned to fire the ball home with his left foot.
Four minutes into the second half, Salas, who has signed a contract to
play for Lazio of Rome next season. struck again. He climbed high for a
right wing cross, beat Fabio Cannavaro in the air and powered a header
between goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca and the post. Maldini sent on
Luigi Di Biagio and Enrico Chiesa for Roberto Di Matteo and Angelo Di Livio
to change the pattern. But the Italians still looked vulnerable on the
counterattack and frequently were caught out by high crosses.
Filippo Inzaghi went on for Vieri with just under 20 minutes remaining and
he almst tied the game in the 80th. Baggio slipped another clever
ball through the Chilean defense, but goalkeeper Tapia was fast off his
line and blocked the striker's first-time, close range shot with his legs.
Coach Maldini said Italy deserved the draw thanks to the strong
fightback by his players in the last part of the match. "We
certainly had some defensive lapses today and must improve in view of the
next match with Cameroon," he
said. "I can't understand the three minutes of injury time given by
the referee, which allowed Chile to score the [first-half] equalizer. I
expected a tough first match in the tournament and it was really difficult
for us." Lineups: Italy: Gianluca Pagliuca,
Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Costacurta,
Dino Baggio, Angelo Di Livio (Enrico Chiesa, 61st), Demetrio Albertini,
Roberto Di Matteo (Luigi Di Biagio, 58th), Christian Vieri (Filippo
Inzaghi, 71st), Roberto Baggio. Chile: Nelson Tapia, Ronald
Fuentes, Pedro Reyes, Javier Margas (Miguel Ramirez, 64th), Moises
Villarroel, Francisco Rojas, Nelson Parraguez, Clarence Acuna (Fernando
Cornejo, 82nd), Fabian Estay (Jose Sierra, 81st), Ivan Zamorano, Marcelo
Salas. Referee: Lucian Bouchardeau, Niger.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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