Tournoi de France: Brazil battles back for thrilling 3-3 tie with Italy

June 8, 1997
Netplus.fr

LYON, France - Brazil struck for two late goals to tie Italy 3-3 on Sunday in a rematch of the 1994 World Cup championship, leaving England the winner of the Tournoi de France with a game to spare.

Romario and Ronaldo had goals for Brazil plus an own-goal by Attilio Lombardo. The World Cup champions trailed 2-0 and 3-1 and almost won the game in the closing minutes with two shots that nearly went in the net.

"It was an incredible show," said Brazil coach Mario Zagallo, whose team salvaged the tie when Romario took a pass from Ronaldo, faked Italy's defense and tapped the ball into an empty net in the 85th minute.

Alessandro del Piero scored twice for Italy, which also benefited from an own-goal by Aldair.

"The players gave all they could," Italy coach Cesare Maldini said. "It was a gala performance from each and every one."

England captured the four-nation exhibition tournament after two of the three rounds with a maximum six points. Brazil has two points and Italy and France one each. No team can catch England.

Following its 1-1 opening tie, Brazil needed the victory to stay in the race for the tournament title.

In the final games, Brazil meets England on Tuesday and France closes against Italy on Wednesday in Paris.

Italy opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Del Piero beat Taffarel with an angled header. The Italians went up 2-0 in the 25th minute when Aldair accidentally headed a wayward free kick of Demetrio Albertini toward his own goal, leaving Taffarel no chance.

Brazil caught a break when a scorching 36th-minute drive from Roberto Carlos hit Lombardo and careened past goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca to make it 2-1.

In the 62nd minute, Italian substitute Filippo Inzaghi was floored by Aldair in the penalty area and Del Piero made the penalty kick.

"From the moment (Inzaghi) came on he proved what a dangerous striker he can be," Maldini said.

Finally, Ronaldo got Brazil back in the game. In the 73rd minute, he scored just inside Pagliuca's right post, his first goal for Brazil in four games. Romario made the comeback complete with five minutes to go, taking a pass from Ronaldo before darting around Pagliuca.
.