Mateo Retegui scored a brace as Italy left it unhurried to beat Venezuela 2-1 at Chase Stadium.
The Genoa forward’s double separated the teams, after Darwin Machis equalised for the South Individuals on the evening in Fort Lauderdale.
The Euro 2020 champions relied on Paris St Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma once again and his penalty saving heroics had been on full indicate.
A pleasant win in Florida! #VENITA #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/qVKFPyS0rE
— Italy (@Azzurri_En) March 21, 2024
The penalty came early. Italy’s blushes had been saved thru Donnarumma who obtained down smartly to screech Salomon Rondon’s space-kick in the opening minutes.
Italy loved lengthy spells of possession and Federico Chiesa went shut to opening the scoring.
The Juventus winger minimize inside on the left, opting for the a ways put up however his whipped effort neglected the target.
Machis was Venezuela’s brightest player up to this point. He delivered an inch-supreme ball to the high of Rondon however the aged West Brom and Everton player’s header failed to inconvenience Donnarumma.
Italy broke the deadlock in the Fortieth minute. Goalkeeper Rafael Romo’s unhappy clearance was picked out by Andrea Cambiaso who laid the ball off to Retegui and the forward smashed the ball in from shut vary.
Italy’s lead handiest lasted a pair of minutes as the potent Machis levelled proceedings.
Donnarumma’s unhappy pass put aside Giacomo Bonaventura below strain and Machis’ pressing forced the mistake out of the midfielder sooner than he offered a quiet finish.
The Azzurri had been left frustrated and they also neglected an different to head forward on the hour when Alessandro Buongiorno must maintain completed greater with a header which sailed over the crossbar from a free-kick.
Retegui then capped evening with the winning purpose 10 minutes from time.
Jorginho original moral footwork to beat a defender after a unhappy clearance and the Arsenal midfielder laid the ball off to the clinical Retegui, who finished his brace with a robust finish.