Rossi, Giovinco shine as Italy outclasses Honduras 3-0

Source: Agencies  |   2008-8-7  |     ONLINE EDITION

ITALY got first-half goals from forwards Sebastian Giovinco and Giuseppe Rossi and Robert Acquafresca added another in the second as Italy beat Honduras 3-0 in its opening football match at the Beijing Olympics.

Giovinco, who plays for club side Juventus, put Italy ahead in the 41st minute with a powerful left-footed strike from 30 meters that sailed past Honduras keeper Kevin Hernandez's outstretched arms and into the upper left corner.

Four minutes later, Slovakian referee Damir Skomina awarded Italy a penalty kick after defender Quiarol Arzu's handball in the box. Rossi calmly slotted the ball inside the right post to double the lead just before halftime.

Italy, which beat Iraq 1-0 to win the bronze at the 2004 games in Athens, also started the first half with a flurry.

Acquafresca should have put the Italians ahead in the 3rd minute, running onto a long ball from defender Antonio Nocerino. Acquafresca raced in alone on goal, but Hernandez charged and blocked the lanky forward's low shot with his right foot.

Minutes later, Hernandez was forced to make another tough save, diving to his left to knock midfielder Riccardo Montolivo's right-footed strike past the post.

After the early jitters, Honduras seemed to settle down, and the game took on a rhythm as Italy controlled possession with its superior technical skills and Honduras looked to score on the counter.

The Hondurans' best early opportunity came in the 15th, when defender David Molina found space on the right side to slide the ball to forward Luis Rodas, but Rodas hit his dipping volley from 20 meters right at Italy keeper Emiliano Viviano.

Italy kept up the pressure and was unlucky not to score in the 22nd when Rossi pushed a header just wide of the post.

The Hondurans' struggles with Italy's talented attacking trio of Rossi, Giovinco and Acquafresca _ all of whom exploited gaping holes in the Honduras backline _ continued in the second half.