Summary Italy and Nigeria played a 2-2 in a friendly football match on Monday.
LONDON (AP) - Giuseppe Rossi put his injury torment behind him by scoring on his first Italy start in two years in a lively 2-2 draw with Nigeria on Monday.
The New Jersey-born striker took just 12 minutes to find the net for the first time in almost 30 months for Italy in a display that will raise his hopes of making the World Cup squad next year.
It was another U.S.-born striker who provided Nigeria s equalizer in the international friendly, when Bright Dike headed in from Shola Ameobi s cross in the 35th minute. Ameobi found the target himself four minutes later with a slick volley.
But Nigeria s lead was erased a minute after halftime when Rossi helped to set up Emanuele Giaccherini s equalizer. The Italians were repeatedly denied a winner by goalkeeper Austine Ejide.
