Italy defeated Ecuador 2-0 in a friendly match played at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
At the home of Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls, Lorenzo Pellegrini got the Italians to a flying start with an early goal in the third minute. The Ecuadorians had their situations, but lacked shots on targer and did not trouble much goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. In the end, Luciano Spalletti's men put an end to the dispute with a second goal in the fourth minute of added time when Nicolo Barella was on target.
Thus, the Italians achieved a second victory over a South American rival in the last few days, after they also beat Venezuela 2:1. The Ecuadorians beat Guatemala at the end of last week.
The team will participate in the Copa America tournament, where Ecuador is in a group with Mexico, Venezuela and Jamaica, while Italy will play two more friendlies before the start of Euro 2024 in Germany - rivals in them are Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the current European champion is in a group with Spain, Croatia and Albania. /BGNES
