Belgium Beats Italy 2-0
Belgium defeats Italy two to zero in their Nations League opening match in Rome.
Anonymous
Belgium beat Italy 2-0 in Rome in the teams’ Nations League opener, giving Italy coach Roberto Mancini a losing start on his return. Mika Godts opened the scoring in the first half after a solo run, and substitute Dodi Lukebakio doubled Belgium’s lead in the 69th minute with a counterattacking strike. Italy improved after halftime and created several chances, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens denied Moise Kean and Pio Esposito, while late efforts from Riccardo Calafiori and Giorgio Scalvini failed to find the net. Gianluigi Donnarumma also made key saves to keep Italy in the contest, but Belgium’s finishing proved decisive.
Key Points
1
Godts’s opener was his first senior international goal, and it came from a Kevin De Bruyne through ball.
2
The match marked the first meeting in charge for the two new coaches: Italy’s Roberto Mancini and Belgium’s Mark van Bommel.
3
Italy’s expected-goals total was 1.52, with 1.22 of that coming after halftime; both Gianluigi Donnarumma and Senne Lammens made six saves.
4
Belgium had additional first-half opportunities: Donnarumma made a double save to deny Charles De Ketelaere and Nicolas Raskin, then stopped a Godts header, while Diego Moreira miscued a close-range chance.
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