MANAUS, Brazil — Mario Balotelli scored with a
second-half header Saturday to give Italy a 2-1 win over England at the
World Cup.
The Italy striker was left unmarked by Gary Cahill and
nodded a cross from Antonio Candreva past goalkeeper Joe Hart in the
50th minute.
Claudio Marchisio opened the scoring for Italy,
sending a long shot through a crowded area and past a diving Hart in the
35th. Daniel Sturridge equalized for England two minutes later, tapping
in a cross from Wayne Rooney.
The win puts Italy in a strong
position to qualify for the second round, and leaves England with plenty
to do in its remaining two matches.
In the other Group D match,
Costa Rica beat Uruguay 3-1, leaving the 2010 semifinalists with a
similarly difficult task to advance.