Italy lead by two at half-time

Italy 2 (Vieri 7, 27) Ecuador 0

Christian Vieri scored twice to give Italy, one of the pre-tournament favourites, the lead over Ecuador at half-time in their opening World Cup match.

A super strike from Inter Milan striker Christian Vieri got Italy’s World Cup campaign up and running after just seven minutes of their Group G opener agianst Ecuador.

Ecuador’s threat had been visible in the second minute when Alfonso Obregon broke out of midfield, only to overhit his pass to Alex Aguinaga on the edge of the penalty area.

Moments later, the South Americans let the Azzurri know they were also going to be a physical threat with Edwin Tenorio felling Totti out wide on the right.

From the resulting free-kick Obregon caught Cannavaro on the face with his arm, but referee Brian Hall did not see it and the defender returned to the field after treatment.

In the sixth minute, Vieri almost gave the Italians the lead when he was played in by Totti, but goalkeeper Jose Cevallos raced from his line to block as the Inter Milan forward tried to lift the ball over him.

However, one minute later the front pair combined to put them ahead. Totti centred from the right for Vieri to fire into the top corner from 13 yards.

Soon after, the Roma captain was almost on the scoresheet himself, but his spectacular 30-yard volley was palmed away by Cevallos.

Augusto Porozo became the first name to go in the book in the 14th minute when he tackled Vieri from behind.

Ecuador picked themselves up and the lively running of De La Cruz was giving the Italians food for thought.

He raced down the right in the 19th minute, with only a diving headed clearance from Nesta preventing Delgado getting on the end of it.

Edison Mendez then put the ball high over the bar under pressure.

Italy were soon back on the attack, with Totti freeing Damiano Tommasi down the right. But with Vieri free in the middle, Ivan Hurtado made a great saving tackle on the midfielder.

Vieri had his third clear chance of the match in the 24th minute, only to mistime his effort at the far post from Gianluca Zambrotta’s cross and put the ball high and wide.

However he was not to be denied a minute later as he raced clear of the Ecuador defence from Luigi di Biagio’s long ball to score at the second attempt after Cevallos half saved his first shot.

The South Americans almost pulled one back three minutes later, but Mendez shot into the side-netting.

Just after the half-hour mark, Vieri almost pounced to claim his hat-trick.

Cevallos spilled Totti’s 20-yard shot, but managed to recover just before the Inter striker reached the rebound.

Totti then combined well with the lively Zambrotta down the right, but the Roma striker’s chipped pass proved just too long for the Juventus man.

A mistake in the Ecuador defence gifted Vieri the ball, but his ambitious shot from the halfway line was way off target.

Delgado, who had been kept under wraps by the Italian defence, did find a bit of space in the 41st

minute, playing the ball to Cleber Chala, whose cross shot was comfortably saved by Gianluigi Buffon low to his right.

Totti again tried his luck from long range three minutes later, drilling a 30-yard free-kick just wide of Cevallos’s left post.