Uruguay's Nahitan Nandez, center, kicks the ball during a friendly soccer match between Italy and Uruguay, at the Nice Allianz Riviera stadium, France. | AP 
Football

Italy cruise past Uruguay as Jose Gimenez has disaster

Italy beat Uruguay for the first time in 27 years with a comfortable 3-0 success in Nice, France on Wednesday.

From our online archive

NICE: Italy beat Uruguay for the first time in 27 years with a comfortable 3-0 success in Nice, France on Wednesday, as the South Americans' defender Jose Gimenez had a shocker.

While this victory will be no consolation for the Italians, who were eliminated from the 2014 World Cup at the group stage after a 1-0 defeat by the South Americans, it does offer Giampiero Ventura's team a timely boost ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Lichtenstein in Udine on Sunday.

With star strikers Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez injured, Uruguay suffer an early blow as Gimenez scored a bizarre own goal after just seven minutes.

Chasing back to challenge Andrea Belotti, who had got beyond the backline, Gimenez inadvertently volleyed the ball into the top corner after the Italian, a reported target for Manchester United, tried to control it on his chest.

Brazilian-born Eder deflected home a cross-cum-shot from Manolo Gabbiadini eight minutes from time to end Uruguay's comeback hopes, before Daniele De Rossi added gloss in injury time from the penalty spot, conceded by Gimenez.

Trump upbeat as US, Iran hold 'very good' indirect talks in Qatar

Nepal ready for diplomatic dialogue with India to resolve border dispute, says Foreign Minister Khanal

From India's furnace to Europe's inferno: The science behind extreme heat

Why the US Supreme Court's birthright citizenship ruling is a major relief for Indians

India urges Pakistan to free 188 prisoners; seeks consular access to 13 Indians

SCROLL FOR NEXT