Materazzi own goal denies Italy

Rüştü injury
Roberto Donadoni's side had gone close to breaking the deadlock as early as the sixth minute when Alberto Gilardino met debutant Cristian Brocchi's cross with a volley that goalkeeper Rüştü Reçber tipped over at full stretch. Unfortunately for Rüştü, it proved to be his last involvement in the match as he pulled a muscle in making the save and had to be replaced by Volkan Demirel.

Defensive errors
Volkan marked his appearance with a mistake on 39 minutes when his mishit goal kick struck Gilardino and rebounded into the path of Italy team-mate Di Natale, who gave the Azzurri the lead. However, Volkan was not alone in his defensive oversight as, three minutes later, Turkey equalised when Materazzi put through his own net. Arda Turan sent İbrahim Üzülmez down the left flank with a slide-rule pass and Materazzi deflected the midfielder's low cross past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Amelia save
Donadoni substituted five players at half-time and two more on the hour, yet his reassembled side might have gone ahead through defender Cristian Zaccardo, whose header from Daniele De Rossi's corner flashed just wide. Minutes later Marco Amelia, who had come on for Buffon, made a good save from Emre Belözoğlu after the Turkey midfielder had dribbled past three Italy markers. Group C leaders Turkey resume their UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying campaign in Greece on 24 March, while Italy, who are third in Group B, host Scotland four days later.