A friendly international in the middle of November between Italy and USA in Genk, Belgium. Why not? Seems as good a place as any for the latest stop in our 'Framed' series while we impatiently wait the return of domestic football this week. Positioned pitch-side at the Cristal Arena, we capture the scenes.
A game as lifeless as the bitterly cold winter night was saved by Matteo Politano's 94th minute winner as the Inter Milan man provided the only goal of the game deep into stoppage time to give the Italians the win over the Americans. Not one for the neutrals this; a shame seeing as though 90% of the crowd in Genk were exactly that.
Obligatory pitch invaders brought some drama to the show and one ball boy went home with some heartwarming memories of a late Italian celebration. But overall, well they can't all be classics. Still, it drops in as the 114th edition of our 'Framed' series if that's any consolation for those in attendance, which it most definitely isn't.
Italy will now turn their attentions to the Euro 2020 qualifying draw in Dublin on 2 December, a draw in which they'll be among the nations in pot one for having drawn 0-0 against Portugal in their previous match to ensure a second-place finish in Nations League Group 3A. As for the USA, it's just one win in eight now after another defeat on the continent at Wembley five days previous.
Photography by Giacomo Cosua for SoccerBible.
