Italy's Ciro Immobile (L) breaks through past Netherlands' Virgil van Dijk during their UEFA Nations League football match in Bergamo, Italy, Oct. 14, 2020. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
ROME, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Italy kept its unbeaten run in the UEFA Nations League alive but lost the pole position of the group after a 1-1 home draw with the Netherlands on Wednesday.
The Azzurri managed one victory and two draws in the previous three group games, and the first leg between the two sides finished 1-0 in Italy's favor.
In Wednesday's game, with Marco Verratti pulling the strings in the midfield, veteran Giorgio Chiellini returned to action to marshal the defence, while Ciro Immobile lead the three-forward line flanked by Federico Chiesa and Lorenzo Pellegrini.
The home side broke the deadlock in the 16th minute with a great move as Nicolo Barella's pass found Pellegrini, who got in front of his marker to beat goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen one-on-one.
The orange got back on level terms nine minutes later as Donny van de Beek drilled home after a series of rebounds.
Italy should have restored the lead in the 56th minute when Hans Hateboer's error allowed Immobile to surge forward, but the top scorer in Serie A last season hit the chance off target.
The draw, coupled with Poland's 3-0 victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina, dropped Italy to the second place with six points, while Poland leads the group with seven. Enditem
