Zurich: Lukewarm Serbia stumbled to a 0-1 home defeat by Chile in a World Cup warm-up game Monday while Morocco were far more impressive in a 2-1 win over Slovakia in the other match involving a finalist.
Serbia, who face Brazil, Costa Rica and Switzerland in their group, looked vulnerable every time the South American champions — who surprisingly failed to qualify for the World Cup — came forward. Guillermo Maripan headed in an 89th-winner for Chile, a fair reward for their more adventurous display.
Morocco, who take on Iran, Portugal and Spain in World Cup Group B, produced plenty of slick passing against Slovakia as they extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches.
Although they fell behind to a long-range Jans Gregus effort in the 59th minute, Morocco replied with goals from Ayoub Kaabi and Younes Belhanda in a 10-minute spell.
Meanwhile at Turin, two teams who have been World Cup finalists on a number of occasions – Italy and the Netherlands – played out a 1-1 draw. – Nathan Ake scored two minutes from time for the Netherlands restore parity after Simone Zaza squeezed home a square pass after a sprint down the right flank by Federico Chiesa in the 67th minute to give the home team a deserved lead. Zaza got ahead of a tired-looking Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk to steer the ball home from close range.
But Italy had defender Domenico Criscito sent off two minutes later after he picked up a second caution, opening the door for the Dutch to push for an equaliser.
Substitute Ake stole in the back post unmarked to power home a header for the 88th-minute equaliser and might have grabbed a winner on the stroke of full-time in similar fashion but just headed wide.
