The Azzurri's superb technique was fully displayed as Italy crushed South Korea 3-0 in the Olympic men's soccer tournament in Qinhuangdao on Sunday.

With brilliant striker Sebastian Giovinco, Italian's attacking trio again proved they were an indubitably gold contender for this tournament.

Six goals in two matches are more than enough to ensure Italy's final round position.

"It is our model to have three forwards, and try to get the best from them," Italian head coach Pierluigi Casiraghi said in the post-match press conference.

"After this match, we are going to play the third game and the fourth. We are going to play the matches one by one, without thinking being favorites," he said.

Giuseppe Rossi opened the scoring for Italy 11 minutes into the match. He struck the ball right into the net after Tommaso Rocchi's powerful shot rebounded from South Korea's defender.

The second goal came in 21 minutes later, when Marco Motta dodged two defenders and sent a cross to Tommaso Rocchi, who finished with a heavy shot.

Midfielder Riccardo Montolivo added the third in the 90th minute. His first shot hit the post but the ball just bounced back to him. Montolivo then coolly put the ball into the net, giving the crowd another wave of cheering.

Giuseppe Rossi has scored two goals in the two matches. Asked how much he would like to win the golden shoe award, he attributed the result to the team. "Our team performed very well in the match, not only us forwards," he said. "I would like to give a big 10 to our team."

South Korea, with one draw and one loss, can hardly progress. "It is difficult for us now to advance to the quarterfinal," South Korea head coach Park Sung Wha said. "But we will try our best to play our third game."

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2008)