Giuseppe Rossi set aside the mixed emotions of playing against the country of his birth to inspire the Italian football team to a 3-1 win over the United States in their Confederations Cup Group B match in Pretoria.
The American-born Rossi fired home a stunning long-range equaliser just 60 seconds after coming on as a 57th-minute substitute and confirmed Italy's triumph with another goal in stoppage time.
Midfielder Daniel de Rossi banished bitter memories of his last encounter against the Americans with a spectacular shot in the 72nd minute as the Italians swamped their 10-man opponents in the second half.
The Americans had taken the lead just before the interval through a Landon Donovan penalty but were fighting a rearguard action after midfielder Ricardo Clark was sent off in the 33rd minute for a lunging tackle.
The Italians, wearing a replica of their 1934 World Cup- winning kit with sky blue tops and burgundy shorts and stockings, next play Egypt and the U.S. face Brazil.
Brazil scored a stoppage time penalty to beat Egypt 4-3.
