A sensational late penalty save from Gianluigi Buffon has kept Italy's Euro 2008 hopes alive with the Azzurri securing a 1-1 draw against Romania in Zurich today.
In a pulsating contest, Buffon saved from Adrian Mutu's penalty with ten minutes to go to keep Italy on level terms, ensuring that Italy goes into its third game against France with a chance of qualification.
Mutu had earlier put the Romanians ahead after a horrible error by Italian defender Gianluca Zambrotta on 55 minutes. But his goal was cancelled out less than 90 seconds later as Christian Panucci bundled home Daniele De Rossi's corner.
The result leaves Romania in second place, but the Romanians could have all but locked up qualification with a win, and Mutu was understandably distraught after the game.
As promised, Italian manager Roberto Donadoni wielded the axe after Italy's 3-0 capitulation to the Netherlands, making no fewer than five changes to his starting line-up. Giorgio Chiellini and Fabio Grosso replaced Andrea Barzagli and Marco Materazzi at the back, Roma pair De Rossi and Simone Perrotta came in for Milan's Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini, whilst Luca Toni was given more support up front, with Alessandro Del Piero being preferred to Antonio Di Natale.
Meanwhile, the Romanians were more settled, with manager Victor Piturca opting for just two changes. Paul Codrea replaced Razvan Cocis in midfield, while veteran winger Florentin Petre was given a chance in place of the more youthful Banel Nicolita.
It was an entertaining first half punctuated by many opportunities, and despite Italy dominating possession for much of the half, it was the Romanians who went closest to scoring on a number of occasions.
The Azzurri made their attacking intentions clear early, with full-backs Grosso and Zambrotta overlapping the wingers at every opportunity, and the first chance of the game fell to Del Piero, whose close-range header was blocked by Romania's giant centre-back Dorin Goian.
Many attacks came from the flanks, with Toni the target of many crosses. But the ball never really fell for him early on. Instead, it was Romania who forced Buffon into a number of early saves.
First, Mutu brought about a good save from Buffon after being released in behind Italy's hesitant defence, and then centre-back Gabriel Tamas tried a speculative shot from way out that tested Buffon.
Romania almost surged ahead on 20 minutes, after captain Christian Chivu's blasted free-kick took a deflection off Daniel Niculae, but the cross-bar came to Italy's rescue with Buffon rooted to his spot.
Romania's purpose to shoot from distance was becoming clear, as shortly after left-back Razvan Rat fired just wide with Buffon sprawling to his left.
However, it was Italy which ended the half stronger, as Toni began causing havoc in the Romanian penalty area.
Toni first set up Perrotta after 40 minutes, only for Codrea to execute a well-timed last-ditch lunge to avert the danger. Toni also met the subsequent corner from the right, but keeper Bogdan Lobont palmed his first effort away, and after the ball was played back into the penalty area, Lobont scurried across to punch clear again.
But the game's first moment of controversay came in first-half stoppage time, as Toni finally beat Lobont with a header only for the linesman to flag for offside.
A short-corner routine found Zambrotta, whose cross was nodded home by Toni, who appeared to be level with the last defender, but the Italian celebrations were cut short by both the referee and the linesman.
The second half started much in the same vein as the first ended, with Italy bossing possession. But again, it was Romania who created the better openings, and they were rewarded on 55 minutes after a horrible mix-up at the back.
Mutu nipped in on Zambrotta's blind-side as he attempted to deal with a high cross-field ball, intercepting his back backheader and finishing past a helpless Buffon with aplomb.
But with the Romanian supporters still celebrating, Italy charged down the other end and forged level less than two minutes later.
A hanging corner from De Rossi found Chiellini at the far post, and his header across goal was tapped home by Panucci.
A comparative lull in play ensued after those two minutes of high drama, as both teams made a number of substitutions.
Italy's Antonio Cassano almost had an immediate impact after replacing the ineffective Perrotta, as his centering ball was chested down by Toni to De Rossi, whose diving header forced a brilliant save by Lobont down to his right.
However, the game took another twist with 10 minutes to go as Romania was awarded a penalty after Panucci held back Niculae on the edge of the six-yard box.
Vehement Italian protests were waved away by Norwegian referee Tom Ovrebo, but Buffon proved to be the hero after he magnificently palmed Mutu's penalty away with a strong right hand.
Italy ventured forward in search of a winner after this let-off, but both teams settled for a draw. Italy now faces France on Tuesday evening, whilst Romania faces the Netherlands simultaneously.
Ratings
Italy
1 - Buffon - 8 - Outstanding penalty stop among other great saves.
2 - Panucci - 7 - Safe game, priceless goal.
3 - Grosso - 7 - Tirelessly got forward at every chance.
4 - Chiellini - 6 - Looked hesitant in his unfavoured centre-back position.
7 - Del Piero (c) - 7 - Supported Toni well before tiring.
9 - Toni - 7 - Better game today. Went to ground a bit easily though.
10 - De Rossi - 6 - Ran from box-to-box all game.
14 - Zambrotta - 5 - Terrible error for the goal. Gave ball away often.
16 - Camoranesi - 6 - Tried hard, but couldn't get into the game much.
20 - Perrotta - 5 - No impact.
21 - Pirlo - 6 - Pushed and probed without reward.
(SUB) 13 - Ambrosini - 6 - Little time.
(SUB) 15 - Quagliarella - 6 - Little time.
(SUB) 18 - Cassano - 6 - Pushed his case for starting XI berth.
Romania
1 - Lobont - 8 - Made some excellent saves.
2 - Contra - 6 - Safe for the most part.
3 - Rat - 7 - Didn't mind getting forward.
4 - Tamas - 7 - Led the defensive line well.
5 - Chivu - 7 - Some nice touches in the middle of the park.
6 - Radoi - 6 - Replaced early on after head-clash.
7 - Petre - 6 - In and out.
8 - Codrea - 7 - Screened his back four well. Some important blocks.
10 - Mutu - 8 - Played superbly apart from the penalty miss.
15 - Goian - 7 - Played well, but needless booking means he'll miss Netherlands game.
21 - Niculae - 6 - Workhorse performance.
(SUB) 12 - Cocis - 6 - No time.
(SUB) 16 - Nicolita - 6 - Lively.
(SUB) 20 - Dica - 6 - Decent game.
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