Post by Salem6 on Apr 23, 2007 15:39:53 GMT
Juventus held to 0-0 draw by Rimini in Serie B action on Tuesday
TURIN, Italy (AP) - Juventus played the entire second half with 10 men and was held to a 0-0 draw by Rimini in the Italian Serie B on Tuesday.
The closest Juventus came to scoring was when David Trezeguet hit the post with a header in first-half injury time. Juventus defender Federico Balzaretti was expelled at halftime for dissent.
Rimini, which has one of the second division's top defences, also held Juventus to a draw in the season opener for both clubs.
Juventus, which was penalized nine points in the Italian match-fixing scandal, leads Serie B with 66 points. Genoa is second with 61 points after beating Vicenza 2-0 for its fifth straight victory and Napoli is third with 59 points following a 3-0 win at Treviso.
Juve hosts Genoa on Saturday.
Rimini is fourth with 54 points.
Three clubs will be promoted at the end of the season. The top two teams will be promoted automatically with the next four clubs entering playoffs for the final berth if the fourth-place team is within 10 points of third place.
Juventus had several chances thwarted by Rimini goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero sent a header on goal from close range in the 18th that Handanovic blocked with a reflex save.
In the 25th, midfielder Mauro Camoranesi sent a surprise shot on goal but Handanovic was again waiting.
In the 45th, Pavel Nedved argued for a penalty but it appeared that the Juventus midfielder fell down by himself inside the area.
Rimini midfielder Emmanuel Cascione also had a chance in the 45th but sent a hard shot wide.
In the 51st, a free kick by Del Piero curved over a Rimini wall toward the high right corner and Handanovic made a leaping save.
Francesco Valiani had another chance for Rimini in the 76th but sent a volley wide.
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