There was a large turnover for Italy with Arrigoni changing nine of the players that beat Mexico 2-0 in the opening match. Only Sbrissa in midfield and the defender Florio kept their places with the latter taking the captain’s armband from Ungaro who was on the bench. The warmth and humidity didn’t help with Ukraine playing very physically against a focused and attacking Italy side.

The opening goal came in the 38th minute. Kushnirenko was booked for a bad mould on Strada. The Italy player took the free kick and Mercadante was able to head home. In the 43rd minute, Strada scored the second goal from another header. He clearly seemed motivated with his father Pietro who spent three years at Salernitana and who played in Serie A watching on.

Ukraine went down to ten men when Dumaniuk was shown a second yellow and it was plain sailing from then on.

The second half began with a Sbrissa goal disallowed for offside. Italy managed the game well without much difficulty and were able to celebrate making it two wins from two at the end. The Azzurrini finished by saluting the larger crowd in Cava.

Italy 2-0 Ukraine

Ukraine: Soldatenko, Sokolov, Kushnirenko (77’ Chumak), Yukhymovych, Zaviiskyi, Radchenko, Dumaniuk, Lobov, Tolochko (46’ Doroshenko) Shtorhin, Kostyshyn (46’ Hryso, 55’ Poniedielnik). Substitutes: Pospielov, Spivakov, Chumak, Nuriiev, Udod, Astakhov. Allenatore: Buznik.

ITALY: Marcantognini, Giraudo, Mercadante, Sbrissa, Galli, Ruzzittu (74’ Galeandro), Florio (78’ Vitturini), Pogliano, Strada (60’ Zonta) Cericola (62’ Ungaro), Grieco. Subsitutes: Cucchietti, Serena, Gatti, Tentardini, Collodel. Allenatore: Arrigoni. 

Referee: Weinberger (Austria)

Assistants: Aletta and Portella (Italy)

Fourth official: Prado (Ecuador)

Goals: 38’ Mercadante, 43’ Strada

Notes. Ammoniti: 8’ Dumaniuk and 45’ (red card) 37’ Kushnirenko, 45’ Radchenko. Corners: 3-2 for Ukraine