Post by Salem6 on Oct 22, 2007 14:38:45 GMT
Serie A Week 4 - 23/9/07 (14.00 UK)
Roma 2 - 2 Juventus
Trezeguet 17 (J), Totti 30, 36 (R), Iaquinta 87 (J)
Stadio Olimpico
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Alessandro Del Piero missed a penalty, but Vincenzo Iaquinta's last-gasp header gave Juventus a 2-2 draw at leaders Roma.
Claudio Ranieri dubbed this tie "a classic" and it had so many layers surrounding it, from their first competitive meeting post-Calciopoli to a Scudetto battle and long-running feud. After three rounds Roma were the only side with a 100 per cent record and yet to concede a goal, while the Champions League victory over Dynamo Kiev further boosted their confidence. Luciano Spalletti's record against Juve in Serie A was of two draws and 11 defeats!
Juve needed a result after their 1-0 home defeat to Udinese to prove they were title material. Former Giallorossi defender Jonathan Zebina continued to sit out a four-match ban and Mauro Camoranesi was injured, but Zdenek Grygera made his debut. Claudio Ranieri really went for it, fielding Vincenzo Iaquinta, David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero in a trident attack. Antonio Nocerino played less than a week after he was hit by a car in Turin city centre.
Roma had the first real chance when Marco Cassetti's strike, set up by Francesco Totti, was fingertipped past the far post by a splendid Gigi Buffon save.
It was Trezeguet who broke through with his 100th Serie A goal. The entire trident combined with Del Piero spreading the play to the right for Iaquinta and the chipped cross in for Trezeguet's header at the near post.
Amantino Mancini was booked for an acrobatic dive and Iaquinta saw yellow for sliding into the back of Max Tonetto. Del Piero's free kick skimmed the crossbar.
Tonetto was stretchered off after just 28 minutes, making way for Brazilian Cicinho.
Roma drew level with their talismanic captain. He had his back to goal, flicked up Mancini's pass to go round Domenico Criscito and opened up his foot to fire into the far corner.
Within six minutes the game had been turned around completely. Mancini chested down Cicinho's long pass and put it in for Alberto Aquilani. Buffon performed an incredible point-blank save, but could do nothing on Totti's follow-up.
Juventus fought back with a fine team move, as Iaquinta held up the ball, Trezeguet's dummy let Del Piero clear for a fierce volley that Alexander Doni palmed out for a corner.
The more experienced Nicola Legrottaglie replaced Criscito at half-time, as the former Genoa youngster was involved in both Roma goals. In the opening 90 seconds of the second half, the Giallorossi had two corners and on one Mancini got the ball trapped under his feet and was unable to turn round in the six-yard box.
Pavel Nedved was brought down by Cicinho in the penalty area five minutes into the second period. Del Piero stepped up only to balloon the spot-kick well over the bar!
Moments later Roma had a great chance to make it 3-1, but Simone Perrotta failed to convert it from close range. During that move Jorge Andrade picked up an injury and made way for Alessandro Birindelli.
Buffon performed a stunning double save on Totti's missile of a free kick and the follow-up from Aquilani. Del Piero send Iaquinta on goal and Doni came rushing out to clear, taking some of Iaquinta's head with him.
Ludovic Giuly replaced the not 100 per cent fit Mancini and Buffon was furious at his defence for not realising Roma take their set-pieces very quickly and allowing Perrotta to get a deflected shot on target.
Rodrigo Taddei cut back past two Juve players in the penalty area, but the finish did not match up to the lead-in, while Perrotta's header was over the bar. Giorgio Chiellini nodded a free kick past the post.
But it was Juventus who equalised three minutes from time at the Stadio Olimpico. Iaquinta, who had not been expected to start this game, got in front of Cicinho to head a long Chiellini throw-in looping backwards into the far top corner.
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Roma: Doni; Cassetti, Juan, Mexes, Tonetto (Cicinho 28); De Rossi, Aquilani; Taddei (Brighi 84), Perrotta, Mancini (Giuly 66); Totti
Juventus: Buffon; Grygera, Andrade (Birindelli 52), Criscito (Legrottaglie 46), Chiellini; Nocerino, Zanetti, Nedved; Iaquinta, Trezeguet, Del Piero (Palladino 73)
Ref: Morganti
Missed penalty: Del Piero 50 (J)
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0708/rom-juv.html