US-born Rossi helps Italy beat America 3-1 in Confed Cup

World champions Italy joined Brazil at the top of Group B after coming from behind to beat 10-man United States 3-1 in an electric Confederations Cup encounter here yesterday.

World champions Italy joined Brazil at the top of Group B after coming from behind to beat 10-man United States 3-1 in an electric Confederations Cup encounter here yesterday.

Landon Donovan (41st min) put the States into the lead only for the Azzurri to hit back after the break with

Italy's Daniele de Rossi (right) celebrates with forward Giuseppe Rossi after he scored his second goal against USA yesterday.

goals from New York-born substitute Giuseppe Rossi (58th, 90th mins) and Daniele De Rossi (72nd min).

USA coach Bob Bradley naturally pointed to Ricardo Clark's red card eight minutes before half-time as a turning point. "The sending off seemed harsh, for me it was more yellow," he said before reflecting on the irony of the Rossis' American connection.

"I've known the Rossi family a long time, Giuseppe's dad coached high school soccer in New Jersey. I hoped that he would have played for us but he made his decision."

Italy coach Marcello Lippi too dwelled on his star substitute's birthplace, smiling: "I was certainly happy tonight Giuseppe was Italian and not American."

Lippi was without injured World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro.