Matteo Politano struck in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time as the US national team presumably closed out the tenure of interim head coach Dave Sarachan with a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Italy in Genk on Tuesday.
2018 Friendlies
1-0
Match Events
15' CLOSE! Berardi's header wide of the target
Mancini's men are continuing to probe away in search of a breakthrough goal. A cross into the box from the right is nodded wide of the target by Berardi, who had a little too much to do 12 yards from goal.
17' CHANCE! Bonucci nearly scores
BIG MISS! Sensi floats a delightful cross into the middle, where Bonucci was left unmarked. The experienced centre-back sticks out a leg but aims his attempt right at Horvath from five yards out.
39' CLOSE! Berardi curls over the crossbar
FINGERTIP STOP! Horvath with another save to make - and this is the pick of the first-half bunch. Berardi sends a curler towards the top corner, but the USA goalkeeper gets the smallest of touches to the ball to help it over the crossbar.
44' US keeper makes another save to deny Verratti
A fourth save of the half for Horvath to make, this time palming Verratti's free-kick delivery away from goal. It appeared to be a cross, but that could so easily have ended in the back of the net.
59' Lasagna misses a golden chance
Horvath, making his first international appearance in a year, is on fire today. Lasagna charges onto Bonucci's ball over the top and has just Horvath to beat, but his shot is saved down low by the United States goalkeeper.
70' CLOSE! Grifo's effort saved
Horvath is doing his chances of regular starts in 2019 no harm at all. Grifo's curler is heading for the top corner, but there is the Club Brugge goalkeeper yet again to push it over the crossbar.
94: GOAL! Italy 1-0 United States (Politano)
Incredibly cruel on the United States, as they concede to what will surely be the last meaningful kick of the match. It is a well-worked goal, with Gagliardini playing Verratti's ball into Politano's path with a first-time pass of his own, and the Inter Milan ace keeps his composure by tucking the ball out of Horvath's reach.
Match Reports:
Italy downed United States 1-0 in Genk with Matteo Politano coming up with the winner in the 94th minute.
Roberto Mancini's side toiled for much of Tuesday's international friendly in Genk but finally found a way to beat impressive goalkeeper Ethan Horvath with mere seconds remaining in added time.
Politano only came on as a substitute with three minutes to play but he dashed into the box to finish sweetly at the end of a rare incisive attack from the Azzurri.
Italy have now kept three clean sheets in a row but Mancini will be concerned about how long it took his team to break down an inexperienced United States side.
Line-ups
Italy XI: Bonucci, S. Sirigu, Verratti, Acerbi, De Sciglio, Emerson, Berardi, S.Sensi, Barella, Lasagna, Chiesa
Subs: Pavoletti, Rugani, Biraghi, A. Cragno, Politano, V. Grifo, Gagliardini, Gianluca Mancini, G. Donnarumma, M.Kean, S. Tonali
United States XI: K. Acosta, M. Delgado, W. Zimmerman, S. Moore, Ethan Horvath, A. Long, Cameron Carter-Vickers, T. Adams, Pulisic, R. Cannon, J. Sargent
Subs: B. Guzan, J. Villafaña, Wood, S. Lletget, J. Green, W. Trapp, M. Miazga, R. Gall, T. Weah