Jose Gimenez Own Goal Helps Italy to Friendly Win over Uruguay

A bizarre own goal from Jose Gimenez helped Italy to a 3-0 friendly win over Uruguay on Wednesday at the  Allianz Riviera in Nice, France.

Italy took the lead in the seventh minute, as Gimenez comically fired past his own goalkeeper from the edge of the area after a long ball forward.

In the second period, goalmouth action was limited, although Inter Milan striker Eder was able to double the Azzurri's advantage seven minutes from time. Daniele De Rossi then rounded off a comprehensive performance with a penalty in the 91st minute.

The Serie A News Twitter feed provided what was an ultra-attacking Italy lineup:

After a fast and physical start from Italy—Claudio Marchisio was cautioned early on in this one—they went ahead with just seven minutes on the clock. 

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

In fairness, they had a huge bit of help from Gimenez. A long ball forward was chested down by Andrea Belotti, although the Uruguay man was tight to the Azzurri striker. However, in an attempt to clear the danger, Gimenez crashed a strike past a stranded Fernando Muslera.

Football journalist Giancarlo Rinaldi enjoyed it:

After the opener, Italy continued to pile forward and should have extended their advantage before half-time.

Belotti had a brilliant chance a couple of minutes after Gimenez's howler but was smothered by an onrushing Muslera. His strike partner Ciro Immobile also should have done better when he was played in by Antonio Candreva; the Lazio man saw his effort blocked by Matias Vecino.

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Despite their strong performance in the opening 45 minutes, Italy's half was punctured by the loss of Marchisio to injury. As noted by Italian Football TV, on his return to the national side, the Juventus man looked gutted to be coming off:

"

His first game back for Italy & he's already going off injured. Montolivo on to replace Marchisio pic.twitter.com/33aucfsPWL

— ItalianFootballTV (@IFTVofficial) June 7, 2017"

Meanwhile, without Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez in the XI, Uruguay offered next to nothing as an attacking threat.

In the second period, the pattern of the game didn't alter too much, while a flurry of substitutes disrupted the rhythm of both sides in trademark international-friendly fashion.

Uruguay thought they'd found an equaliser after the break, as Martin Caceres towered high to head home a set piece. However, it was chalked off for a foul on Ricardo Montolivo.

VALERY HACHE/Getty Images

Despite the non-competitive nature of the game, there were times in the second half when tempers did fray. Andrea Barzagli and De Rossi were particularly unhappy with the conduct of Nahitan Nandez, who picked up a yellow card for a poor challenge.

In terms of eye-catching attacking play, there was little to sample for supporters in Nice for long spells. Italy did always look the more likely of the two to find the net, though, and Stephan El Shaarawy forced a superb stop from Muslera after stealing the ball high up the pitch.

The Warriors of Uruguay Twitter feed paid tribute to their stopper, who was the team's best performer on the night:

In the final stages of the match, the South Americans were noticeably jaded, as they struggled to cope with the fresh legs in the Italy attack. So it was no surprise to see two substitutes combine for the Azzurri's second of the evening.

VALERY HACHE/Getty Images

Seconds after coming on, Manolo Gabbiadini found space in the box and steered a strike towards goal with his left foot. His effort was going wide, but Eder was on the spot to divert beyond Muslera. Per OptaPaolo, he's in fine form at the moment:

With the game gone, Uruguay started to make even more rash decisions, with El Sharaawy, in particular, too hot to handle. In stoppage time, he was felled in the box, and that allowed De Rossi to step up and add the gloss to the scoreline before the final whistle.

Italy weren't quite at their fluid best here, although the performance will ensure the Azzurri head into their FIFA World Cup qualifying match with Liechtenstein on Sunday in a winning groove.