Post by Salem6 on Nov 13, 2006 22:34:49 GMT
After taking home a point from Monday’s clash with Napoli at the San Paolo, the Bianconeri returned to the Olimpico this afternoon with victory in their sights. A win against Pescara would see Juventus overtake Rimini in the standings and Didier Deschamps was taking no chances, recalling Kovac, Nedved and Trezeguet - who all missed the trip to Naples - to the starting line-up. With the absences of Boumsong and Legrottaglie (who underwent surgery on his shoulder this week), Chiellini maintained his place at the heart of the defence, while up front, captain Del Piero looked to extend his impressive goal scoring streak after netting in each of the Bianconeri’s last three games.
Juventus asserted their authority early on, dominating possession and looking to breach the Pescara defence from a variety of angles. In the 6th minute, Nedved beat his man on the left wing and it took an athletic interception from Delli Carri to stop Del Piero from heading the Czech’s tantalising cross home on the edge of the six yard box. A minute later and a deflected pass from Camoranesi fell to Trezeguet on the edge of the box. The Frenchman tried his luck first time but his fierce effort skimmed just wide of the right post. Pescara held their line well but it was only a matter of time. In the 18th minute, Nedved received the ball on the edge of the area, cut inside, and curled a spectacular right-footed effort into the top right hand corner of the goal. Tardioli had no chance as the Czech opened the scoring for the Bianconeri (1-0). Juventus were not content with one and they continued to pile on the pressure. Trezeguet had an half-chance on 23 minutes but he was off balance as he attempted to shoot on the turn from close range. Del Piero limped off a minute later and was replaced by Bojinov, but the wave of Bianconeri attacks continued. In the 25th minute Gonnella came agonisingly close to putting the ball in his own net, chesting a devilish cross from Camoranesi inches wide of the left post, but the score remained 1-0. Three minutes later and Bojinov fed Trezeguet with an angled ball from the left edge of the box. The Frenchman tried a spectacular volley but his effort sailed high and over the bar. Birindelli, on the right, and Balzaretti, on the left, both maintained positions high up the pitch, peppering the Pescara penalty area with a series of crosses, but goalkeeper Tardioli was equal to the task, swatting away the fruits of Bianconeri’s ventures down the flanks with authority. Nedved tried to catch the Pescara keeper off-guard on the stroke of half-time but his low effort lacked the necessary power to trouble Tardioli. With Juventus encamped in the Pescara half, the referee blew his whistle, bringing the rather one-sided half to an end with the Bianconeri leading 1-0.
The pace of the game was decidedly slower as Juventus tried to exert their control on the second-half. Nedved was looking lively on the left, keeping Tardioli on his toes with his long range shooting and dangerous crosses, but the Pescara back line held firm. It wasn’t until the 57th minute that the Bianconeri finally doubled their lead. Camoranesi found Zanetti with a cross from the right wing, the midfielder played the ball first time to Nedved and the Czech winger made it two with a perfectly placed grass-cutter from the edge of the box (2-0). Pescara rang the changes but three sets of fresh legs couldn’t stop Juventus from dominating possession. On 63 minutes Camoranesi floated a delightful diagonal ball into the middle. Trezeguet hurtled into the box at pace but couldn’t make a decent connection with the winger’s pass, scuffing the ball into the arms of Tardioli. Four minutes later and it was Trezeguet again who came close to adding a third. Bojinov picked him out in the middle and the striker juggled the ball over his marker before attempting to lob the Pescara keeper from near the penalty spot. His effort travelled just wide of the right post but he wasn’t done there, exchanging passes with Bojinov in the 71st minute and forcing Tardioli to save down low just inside the Pescara area. It wouldn’t have counted though, he was off-side. On 77 minutes Birindelli made way for Zebina as Deschamps looked to play out the win. The intensity of the game was nothing like that of the first-half as Pescara resigned themselves to defeat and Juve began thinking about next week’s trip to Albinoleffe. Guzman replaced Nedved in the 84th minute, giving the architect of the victory a chance to receive the applause of the Bianconeri faithful before disappearing down the tunnel for a well-deserved hot bath. Pescara rallied as the game drew to a close but it was too little, too late. A memorable return to action for Nedved as the Bianconeri picked up three more points and leapfrogged Rimini into third place in the table.
GOALS: Nedved 18’, 57’
BOOKED: De Falco 31’
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Birindelli (Zebina 77’), Chiellini, Kovac, Balzaretti; Nedved (Guzman 84’), Zanetti, Paro, Camoranesi; Trezeguet, Del Piero (capt.) (Bojinov 24’)
Subs: Mirante, De Ceglie, Marchisio, Palladino, Bojinov
Coach: Deschamps
PESCARA: Tardioli; De Martis, Gonnella (Olivieri 66’), Delli Carri (capt.), De Falco; Luci, Carozza, Papini (Ferrante 57’); Antonelli, Rigoni; Martini (Gautieri 61’)
Subs: Spadavecchia, Moscardi, Aquilante, Felci
Coach: Ammazzalorso
REFEREE: Ciampi
ASSISTANTS: Cini, Bianchi
4TH OFFICIAL: Meli
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