Italy 1 Poland 1: Jorginho’s penalty rescues Azzurri after the Chelsea new boy blundered for Piotr Zielinski’s opener
JORGINHO cocked up for Poland's opener then stepped up for Italy's penalty leveller in this stuttering Uefa Nations League clash.
Chelsea's new £57million midfielder had a quiet night, those two moments apart, as the Azzurri struggled in 's first competitive match in charge.
None more so than ex-Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, recalled after four years out of competitive internationals.
And it was only after the Nice star was hauled off after 61 minutes that Italy began to rouse.
The Azzurri's tentative start was almost punished by Poland as early as the sixth minute.
Jorginho lost the ball twice in quick succession - and on the second occasion should have paid for it..
Piotr Zielinski slipped Robert Lewandowski in through the middle and the Bayern Munich striker's firm low shot was somehow parried away by Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Mancini's mediocre men looked increasingly laboured after that.
And on 40 minutes Poland exploited a rare opportunity from either side to take the lead.
Lewandowski skipped down the left and measured a far-post pull-back for Zielinski to sidefoot home a thumping volley of breath-taking technique.
Balotelli, meanwhile, scarcely touched the ball, albeit starved of service up front.
And indeed the Azzurri clearly improved, although mainly in urgency rather in class, when Torino hitman Andrea Belotti came on to replace him.
Nonetheless, Italy were hardly pounding on the door when they equalised after 76 minutes.
Lively sub Federico Chiesa burst into the box, where Jakub Blaszczykowski slid in to clearly get the ball but also fell the Fiorentina forward with his trailing leg.
Jorginho smashed home a confident spot-kick to leave the Azzurri pushing forward for victory.
But Poland clung for a draw they probably deserved, given their perky counter-attacks before the break and Italy's lack of incision after it.
