KAISERSLAUTERN, June 18: Italy and the United States slugged out a bruising 1-1 draw in the most controversial match of the World Cup so far in which three players were sent off in their Group E clash on Saturday.

Alberto Gilardino's opener for Italy was cancelled out by a an own goal from Cristian Zaccardo, but the real talking point of an explosive match was a World Cup record-equalling three red cards shown by Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda.

The US finished with nine men and Italy with 10.

“I'm disappointed and angry,” said Italy coach Marcello Lippi. “We didn't go into this match in the right frame of mind and we paid for that with the nervous way we played and with the mistakes we made.”

Frustrated US coach Bruce Arena added: “Two red cards in the space of five minutes is pretty harsh and I respect the team for the way they dealt with it.”

The draw leaves the group wide open and all the teams can still qualify. Italy are top with four points ahead of Czech Republic and Ghana on three and the US at the bottom with one.

The Africans beat the Czechs 2-0 in Saturday's earlier match.

The Italians, so impressive in their opening 2-0 win over World Cup debutants Ghana, were hustled and harried out of their stride in the early stages as the Americans looked to make up for their dismal 3-0 defeat by Czech Republic.

Roared on by thousands of star spangled fans, many from the American air force bases scattered around the local countryside, the U.S twice went close to taking the lead but midfielders Bobby Convey and Clint Dempsey failed to hit the target.

It was against the run of play when the Azzurri took the lead after 22 minutes when striker Gilardino dived to head in Andrea Pirlo's inviting free kick.

Any thoughts that Italy would hit the cruise control button were soon dispelled, however, as they self-destructed spectacularly in the space of a minute.

After 27 minutes the Americans were gifted an equaliser when the lively Convey's cross was sliced into his own net by Cristian Zaccardo.

Things got even worse for Italy a minute later when defender De Rossi was sent off for a blatant elbow on Brian McBride right in front of the referee, which left the American with blood all over his face and needing three stitches under his left eye.

“I didn't see Daniele's foul (at the time) but when I saw it on the replay I thought the decision was right — as were the expulsions of the two US players,” said Gilardino.

Lippi added: “I'm sorry because he's a really good kid but he's made the umpteenth stupid mistake.”

Pablo Mastroeni almost gave the Americans the lead with a dipping shot from 25 metres after 42 minutes, only to be shown a straight red card seconds before the interval for a scything foul on Pirlo.

The fireworks continued immediately after the break when referee Larrionda pulled out his red card for the third time when US defender Eddie Pope, who had already been booked, lunged in from behind on Gilardino.

With any semblance of pre-match systems and tactics already in tatters, the action swung from end to end like a basketball match.

Carlos Bocanegra headed a 52nd minute Pirlo free kick against his own bar and, at the other end, substitute DaMarcus Beasley had a goal disallowed for offside after Gianluigi Buffon had allowed his shot to squeeze under his body.

Italy were effectively playing with nine men as Simone Perrotta was hobbling and all three substitutes had been used but they carved out the best chances.

Left back Gianluca Zambrotta curled a shot just wide of Kasey Keller's goal before the in-form American keeper made an instinctive save to keep out a volley by substitute Alessandro Del Piero while Gilardino also went close with a header.

Scorers: Italy -- Alberto Gilardino 22; United States Cristian Zaccardo own goal 27.

Halftime: 1-1

Teams:

ITALY (4-3-1-2): 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 2-Cristian Zaccardo (7-Alessandro Del Piero 55), 13-Alessandro Nesta, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 19-Gianluca Zambrotta; 4-Daniele De Rossi, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 20-Simone Perrotta; 10-Francesco Totti (8-Gennaro Gattuso 35); 9-Luca Toni (15-Vincenza Iaquinta 61), 11-Alberto Gilardino.

UNITED STATES (4-4-2): 18-Kasey Keller; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 22-Oguchi Onyewu, 23-Eddie Pope, 3-Carlos Bocanegra; 8-Clint Dempsey (17 DaMarcus Beasley 62), 10-Claudio Reyna, 4-Pablo Mastroeni, 15-Bobby Convey (13-Jimmy Conrad 52); 21-Landon Donovan, 20-Brian McBride.

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay).—Reuters

Group E standings