Lorenzo Pellegrini scores early, guiding Italy to 2-0 friendly win over Ecuador | OneFootball

Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini opened the scoring early to guide Italy to a 2-0 friendly victory over Ecuador at Red Bull Arena in the United States.

With manager Luciano Spalletti overhauling his side from Thursday’s win over Venezuela, Pellegrini capitalised on a rebound off the wall from a free kick, unleashing a powerful strike to put the Azzurri in the lead early on.

Despite Ecuador’s efforts to mount a comeback, Italy’s defence remained resolute, denying the opposition any clear-cut opportunities. Spalletti’s men sealed their victory with a late goal deep into stoppage time from midfielder Nicolo Barella, who calmly lobbed the ball past goalkeeper Javier Burrai to secure the 2-0 win for Italy.

With Euro 2024 on the horizon, the victory provides a confidence boost for Italy as they prepare to face stiff competition in Group B, which includes Spain, Albania, and Croatia.