In the 26′ minute Ricardo Montolivo’s blast hit the inside of the upright and in 99.9% of the times the ball would have firmly lodged itself into the back of the net but the Italians found that .1% where the ball scooted out across goal.
But all that is moot as Tommy Smith fouled De Rossi in the box and the referee Carlos Batres of Guatemala awarded a spot kick. After a interminable wait where he made sure players stayed on the line, Vincenzo Iaquinta was allowed to take the PK. He made no mistake.
Smith also earned a yellow card.