Italy top Belgium 2-1 on Insigne goal

Sports Desk, Jul 2 (EFE).- Lorenzo Insigne’s goal in the 44th minute turned out to be the difference for Italy in Friday’s Euro 2020 quarterfinal against Belgium at Allianz Arena in Munich.

Leonardo Bonucci appeared to put the Azzurri ahead in the 13th minute before the goal was disallowed for offside, but Italy would go on to take the lead in the 31st when Nicolo Barella took advantage of poor defending by Belgium to put the ball behind goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Insigne made it 2-0 in the 44th minute with a brilliant strike.

Jeremy Doku won a penalty for Belgium in the final minute of first-half regulation and Romelu Lukaku converted from the spot to narrow the deficit to 2-1.

The Red Devils pushed hard for the equalizer in the second half, but the closest they came was a Lukaku shot that defender Leonardo Spinazzola stopped on the goal line.

Italy will face Spain next Tuesday in a semifinal that promises to add another exciting chapter to one of European soccer’s most-storied rivalries. EFE am/dr