FULL-TIME: Nine-man USA hold on for a point against ten-man Italy. The group is wide open.

ALMOST! Nesta curls a cross in to the middle, but Gilardino glances his header wide of the far post.

There isn't a lot of urgency from Italy; they look fairly drained, too.

Cannavarro fouls McBride as the two jumped at an Italy corner. USA breathe again.

USA have no men forward at the moment; they have dragged everyone back and are hanging on for dear life.

Oguchi Onyewu makes a crucial interception as Del Piero fires a low cross across the face of goal.

McBride heads clear Del Piero's corner at the near post.

Keller is quick to spot the danger when Pirlo tries to pick out Perrotta with a cute through-ball.

WHAT A CHANCE! Del Piero feeds a pass in to Iaquinta inside the penalty area, but his control lets him down at the crucial moment.

USA look very tired now, and it's hardly surprising; there has been some strong, determined performances this evening.

Conrad makes an important challenge on the edge of his own penalty area as Del Piero ran at him.

I have been really impressed with the USA; despite only having nine men, they have remained organised and committed and look like they could hold on for a valuable point.

Beasley breaks through the middle, but he loses the ball before spotting the penetrating run of Donovan on his outside.

GOOD HANDS! Keller fists away Del Piero's shot from the edge of the penalty area.

GOOD PLAY! Steve Cherundolo brilliantly beats his man down the right before sending over a testing cross to the back post, although McBride can't direct his header on target.

Italy are remaining patient as they search for this winning goal, but they must be getting a little frustrated.

Pirlo's cross is too deep, a real wasted chance to test Keller again.

It has been a really spirited display by the USA; they are still managing to show a lot of positive intent and look quite solid at the back.

USA have a nice spell with the ball around the Italy penalty area, but Reyna and Beasley can't manufacture a shooting chance for McBride.

Keller has kept his side in the match with that save; it was a really good leap and he managed to palm the ball away to safety.

WONDER SAVE! Keller pulls off a stunning, one-handed save to paw away Del Piero's goal-bound flick.

GOOD CHANCE! Donovan curls in a free-kick; Bocanegra climbs highest inside the penalty area, but heads off target.

Zambrotta is booked for pushing over Steve Cherundolo as they chased down a pass down the right wing.

Iaquinta seems to be having a positive effect for Italy; he has certainly got the pace to go past tiring defenders as the game goes on.

CLOSE! Zambrotta cuts inside and curls a right-foot shot through a crowd of players; it beats the dive of Keller, but spins wide of the far post.

Perrotta is back on the pitch, but he is hobbling badly and doesn't look at all mobile.

Perrotta is stretchered from the field after a nasty challenge from Bocanegra. Italy have used all of their substitutes, so if he doesn't make it back, it's nine v nine...

GOAL! NO! Beasley fires a low shot goalwards; it beats Buffon and rolls in inside the back post, but the linesman rules that McBride was stood in an offisde position and interferring with play.

Italy have certainly been dominant since the break, but they haven't really worked Keller as much as they'd have liked.

GOOD BREAK! Donovan leads a USA break with a dart through the middle; he feeds McBride, but the Fulham striker slices his left-foot shot wide of the near post.

USA SUB: Dempsey is replaced by Beasley; Dempsey has worked really hard down the right wing.

ITALY SUB: Iaquinta comes on to replace Toni; the Udinese striker scored in the previous game against Ghana.

OVER! Perrotta fires a shot over the crossbar from a tight angle; good defending from Conrad, who put him under pressure.

USA have a penalty shout when the ball strikes Nesta's arm inside the penalty area, but the referee rules 'play on'.

USA aren't going to get many more shooting opportunities; they need to do better when they get in the final third.

DISAPPOINTING! Reyna breaks forward through the middle, but he makes a mess of his shot from 20 yards, dragging it well wide of the post.

Del Piero releases Zambrotta down the left, but there is no striker to turn in his low cross.

Perrotta breaks in to some space down the right before sending over a good cross, although it is too long for Del Piero and Toni.

Pirlo is beginning to find a lot of space in midfield, and is picking out some good passes; he could really open up the USA defence with all the time and space he is being given.

ITALY SUB: Del Piero replaces Zaccardo; Lippi brings on another striker to try and capitalise on his team's one-man advantage.

USA are going to have a lot of running to do in this second half; tiredness will surely be a factor as the game progresses.

OFF THE BAR! Bocanegra heads a wickedly curling free-kick on to his own crossbar. A close shave for USA.

USA SUBSTITUTION: Convey is replaced by Jim Conrad; a defensive change from Arena as he tries to reorganise after the two sendings off.

The USA will have to gamble at the back a little for the remainder of the game; they are playing with just three at the back.

Arena still looks furious at the Pope sending off; he is prowling around on the sidelines, muttering to himself.

Cannavaro receives some treatment after landing awkardly on his ankle. He is stretchered off, and looks in serious pain.

Replays do suggest that Pope did catch the Italian striker on the ankle as he slid in; USA down to ninr men.

AMAZING! POPE IS SENT OFF! The referee books Pope for the second time for a sliding challenge on Toni. Real drama here.

So, ten against ten in the second half; that should mean the players have more space and time to create.

Italy kick off the second half.

HALF-TIME: Two red cards, two goals. A pretty chaotic first-half, all-in-all. It really could go either way from here.

It was a pretty ugly challenge from Mastroeni, on reflection; he flew in, studs-up on Pirlo, who he caught on the ankle.

OFF! Mastroeni is sent off for a reckless lunge in midfield. A harsh decision, I think, but he has to go.

NICE MOVE! Donovan's flick sets Reyna free on the edge of the area, but the captain's shot is deflected and spins out for a corner.

CLOSE! Mastroeni finds himself in space, 30 yards from goal; he opts to shoot, but curls his effort narrowly over the crossbar. Good effort.

USA will never get a better chance to record their first-ever victory against Italy.

Pirlo plays in Zambrotta down the left, but the linesman rules the full-back has got too far ahead of the play and flags for offside.

Reyna is in quickly on Gattusso, but the referee spots a foul. The two exchange some friendly banter before play continues.

Italy seem to be playing with a 3-4-2 formation since the departure of De Rossi; it is adventurous and bold - can USA capitalise?

Italy have had a disrupted build-up to this tournament, with all the match-fixing allegations in Serie A; they will now have to cope with a suspension to one of their first-choice midfielders.

Gattuso will add some steel to the Italian midfield; he is a really terrier, a snarling, biting, scrappy little player with a really impressive beard.

ITALY SUB: Gattuso comes on to replace Totti; the playmaker is sacrificed as Lippi opts to strengthen his midfield after De Rossi's red card.

Pope gets too tight to Toni, and the referee spots a shirt-tug from the USA defender.

USA have to try and stretch the play as much as possible; try to drag the Italian defence out of position and hope to create chances for McBride and Donovan.

...Convey sends the corner in to the middle, but Bocanegra heads over.

Steve Cherundolo's cross from the right is headed behind by Zambrotta. Corner to the USA...

McBride is still off the field receiving treatment for the cut to the face he received from De Rossi's elbow.

Italy will have to reorganise now; Totti seems to have dropped a little deeper in to midfield to support Pirlo.

So, Italy are down to ten men, and USA have a real chance to make them pay; there is a lot of time left for the Americans to edge in front.

De Rossi has really let himself down there; it was a malicious elbow that caught McBride square in the face.

OFF! De Rossi is sent off for an elbow on McBride. Real drama.

It was a dreadful piece of defending from Zaccardo; he wasn't under a lot pressure, but somehow managed to screw the ball past Buffon.

GOAL! And Zaccardo slices the ball in to his own net at the back post!

...Convey swings the free-kick in to the middle...

USA win a free-kick, out on the right touchline...

Bruce Arena doesn't look a very happy bunny on the USA bench; in fact, he looks decidedly grumpy.

If USA lose tonight; they can still progress if results go their way in the final group games, although it will certainly be tough for them.

The Italian fans are the ones making the most noise at the moment; USA look a little shocked after going behind.

Italy lead, but that's not really a fair reflection of the game; USA had made by far the better start.

There wasn't much Keller could do about that; the USA marking was dreadful; Gilardino had a free header inside the six-yard box.

GOAL! Pirlo curs a free-kick in to the penalty area; Gilardino loses his marker and glances a low header past Keller.

Oguchi Onyewu does well to intercept Totti's pass in to the area, intended for Toni/

Eddie Pope hauls down Toni as the two tussled for the ball in the USA half; free-kick Italy.

Italy are really struggling to find their feet at the moment; they are losing the midfield battle, without a doubt.

Dempsey looks to be a good player; he has given USA a directness and energy down that right-hand side.

JUST WIDE! Dempsey finds some space on the edge of the area; he spins and fires in a low shot, but the ball skips wide of the far post. Good effort.

RUBBISH! Reyna, who has otherwise made an excellent start, sends a pass out of play as he tries to find Dempsey. Poor play from the skipper.

USA have made a really positive start here; Arena's tactical changes have had the right effect.

OVER! Dempsey shows some silky skills down the right before firing in a low cross; it finds its way through a crowd to Convey at the back post, but he slashes his shot high over the bar.

DEFLECTED! Convey fires in the free-kick, but his effort is deflected off the wall and out for a corner.

USA win a free-kick in a really threatening position on the edge of the Italy penalty area after Cannavarro's clumsy challenge.

...Totti curls the ball in to the middle, but De Rossi is caught off-side. Brave defending from the USA.

Italy win a free-kick; Totti stands over the ball as his players jockey for position in the penalty area...

GOOD TACKLE! Oguchi Onyewu holds off Toni as the striker strode in to the USA penalty area. Good strong defending from the youngster.

USA have made the better start in the Fritz-Walter Stadion, Kaiserslautern; they look positive and dynamic - a really good sign.

USA are playing with a very high defensive line; already they are pressing up in midfield and trying to catch the Italian strikers offside.

Dempsey feeds a good low cross in to the middle, but Donovan can't get the ball out of his feet to get his shot away.

Carlos Bocanegra is starting tonight; he has come in to replace Lewis at left back. Lewis had a poor game against the Czechs; he looked a little unsure, defensively.

Donovan goes down inside the penalty area as he tried to get on the end of Cherundolo's cross from the right; no penalty.

Donovan appears to be playing a little further up the pitch than he did against the Czechs; he will be looking to feed passes in to McBride, an ever-willing runner.

USA seem to want to play at a high tempo, to really get some pressure on Italy; they'll have to be careful not to be hit on the break.

Totti is booked for a challenge from behind in midfield; a harsh decision from the referee, perhaps. USA quickly get on with the game.

There is a fabulous atmosphere inside the ground; the fans have mingled well, and are really enjoying this beautiful summer evening.

Pirlo will play an important role tonight, sitting in midfield and spraying passes around for his team-mates.

Ghana's win earlier in the day has really thrown this group wide open; a good result here and USA have a great chance of progressing.

GOOD CROSS! Toni climbs high to try and get on the end of Totti's cross, but he can only glance his header well wide.

History and form favours the Italians, but football is a crazy, crazy game - anything can happen.

Here we go. USA kick off on a very pleasant evening.

Hello again. I'm Alex, I'm here to guide you through Team USA's big clash against Italy. I'm excited. Are you?