Italy off to dream start - full report

Italy 2 (Vieri 7, 27) Ecuador 0

Italy got their World Cup campaign off to a perfect start with a victory over Ecuador earned by two goals from Christian Vieri.

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.

Ecuador coach Hernan Dario Gomez took playmaker Alex Aguinaga, who had been largely ineffective, out of the action and replaced him with Carlo Tenorio for the second half.

De La Cruz was the second Ecuador player to be cautioned in the 48th minute, for a studs-up tackle on Maldini.

Zambrotta continued to threaten down the right, turning neatly to cross for Totti, whose left-foot volley was blocked by De La Cruz.

Mendez discovered some rare space on the edge of the Italy area, only to blast his shot well wide of Buffon’s left post.

Italy almost extended their lead in the 56th minute with Tommasi stinging Cevallos’ fingertips.

From Totti’s resulting corner, Cristiano Doni stole in front of the keeper to volley against the crossbar.

Cevallos was also less than convincing when Vieri tried his luck with a left-foot drive from outside the area, punching the ball straight to Totti, who was crowded out by the Ecuador defence.

Vieri almost returned the favour for Totti from the first goal, but Porozo just managed to nip in front of the Roma man to clear Vieri’s cross.

With 16 minutes remaining, Italy golden boy del Piero came on for Totti to a standing ovation from the Azzurri faithful.

Cannavaro became the first Italian to go into the referee’s book for pulling Mendez’s shirt in the 81st minute.

Ecuador almost grabbed a consolation in the final minute, only for Gianluigi Buffon to deny Delgado with a fine reflex save from the 12-yard shot.