YEREVAN, Armenia -- Italy veteran Andrea Pirlo scored one goal and created another as the Azzurri laboured to a 3-1 win over Armenia in World Cup qualifying Friday. Reggie Wayne Jersey Indianapolis Colts . Pirlo fired Italy ahead in the 11th minute from the penalty spot following Hrayr Mkoyans handball. But Armenia levelled in the 28th through Shakhtar Donetsks impressive Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Daniele De Rossi headed Italy back in front shortly after the hour mark before Pablo Osvaldo sealed the result with his third goal in as many qualifying matches. "We suffered a bit with a few of their counterattacks and we had a couple of individual problems, but Im happy," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "I wont stop saying it, this is a particularly tricky group, we had a great game and played with a lot of character." It is Italys 33rd match without defeat in World Cup and European Championship qualifying matches. Italy was without Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli, who -- although initially included in the starting lineup Thursday -- had not recovered from flu in time. He was replaced by Juventus forward Sebastian Giovinco. Italy started brightly and could have been ahead in the fifth minute but Armenia goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky did brilliantly at full stretch to keep out Pirlos free kick, which seemed destined for the top right corner. Riccardo Montolivo did well minutes later to carve out some space and cross in towards Claudio Marchisio but the ball was marginally too far away for the Juventus midfielder. Italy was ahead shortly afterwards when it was awarded a penalty. Domenico Criscito -- back in the squad for the first time since being questioned over a match-fixing scandal -- raced down the left flank before putting in a cross that Montolivo sidefooted straight at the goalkeeper. The rebound fell back to Montolivo, whose effort was blocked by Hrayr Mkoyans arm. Pirlo stepped up and sent Berezovsky the wrong way, firing low into the bottom left corner. Armenia levelled almost immediately but Gianluigi Buffon did well to tip Aras Ozbilizs free kick over the bar. It was back on level terms when Mkhitaryan collected the ball near the halfway line, evaded Andrea Barzagli and raced away from Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci before firing into the bottom right corner. The in-form Mkhitaryan is currently the leading scorer in the Ukrainian league, with 14 goals in 11 matches. The Italy players were furious because they wanted the game to have been stopped just before Mkhitaryan got the ball because of a clash of heads between Armenia midfielder Davit Manoyan and Italy defender Christian Maggio. "When two players clash heads, you have to stop the game. The referee didnt do that and thats why I protested," Prandelli said. Armenia could have taken the lead seconds after halftime but Artur Edigaryans fierce effort flew over the bar after a lucky deflection from Criscito. It went even closer moments later when Giovinco turned in the area to carve out some space for himself but fired over. Italy could have had a penalty when Karlen Mkrtchyan appeared to handle in the area but the referee waved play on. Armenia almost took the lead when Mkhitaryan raced down the right flank and crossed towards an unmarked Yura Movsisyan whose volley was brilliantly saved by Buffon. Italy restored its advantage shortly afterwards when De Rossi headed in Pirlos cross off the underside of the crossbar. Armenia battled hard for the equalizer and Movsisyan would have had an almost certain goal after a mistake by Bonucci but for a sliding, last-ditch tackle by Maggio. Italy sealed the result when Osvaldo headed in De Rossis free kick. Trent Richardson . The 25-year-old Spaniard, who joined United from Chelsea in January, scored twice, including directly from a free kick, to take his tally to three goals in his last two games. "I think he has made us better," United manager David Moyes said. Ahmad Bradshaw .Y. -- The NFL says the number of concussions in practices and games in the preseason and regular season dropped 13 per cent from 2012 to 2013.Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade and Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for the period ending Dec. 22. Wade averaged 26.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals while leading the Heat to a 3-0 record. The 31-year-old shot 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range en route to his 17th weekly honor. Griffin averaged 26.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game as the Clippers finished the week with a perfect 4-0 mark. HHe finished with at least 20 points and 10 boards in three games, and shot 49 percent from the field and 87. Dwayne Allen. 5 percent from the free throw line for the week to secure the third weekly honor of his career. Other nominees for the awards included Atlantas Al Horford, Charlottes Kemba Walker, Golden States Stephen Curry, Clippers guard Chris Paul, Oklahoma Citys Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, Portlands Damian Lillard, Torontos Kyle Lowry and Washingtons John Wall. ' ' '
