Post by Salem6 on Feb 4, 2008 9:11:15 GMT
Serie A Week 21 - 3/2/08 (14.00 UK)
Juventus 1 - 1 Cagliari
Bianco 55 (C), Nedved 56 (J)
Stadio Olimpico
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Cagliari held Juventus to a 1-1 draw at the Olimpico, as both goals arrived in the space of 60 seconds.
The Bianconeri knew they had to focus on Serie A now after their Coppa Italia quarter-final exit to rivals Inter on Wednesday, but came up against a Sardinian side desperate to get off the foot of the table following their shock 2-1 win over Napoli - their first since September. Bans took their toll on Juve with Cristiano Zanetti, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Guglielmo Stendardo sidelined plus Gigi Buffon still dealing with a back problem. New signing Momo Sissoko was on the bench, as Tiago Mendes got a rare nod.
Cristian Molinaro's left-foot strike flashed over the top corner, but on 11 minutes Pavel Nedved skipped past Daniele Conti and sent David Trezeguet clear, Marco Storari performing a desperate point-blank save.
Paolo Bianco dived in to charge down another dangerous Trezeguet opportunity, but the Sardinians also threatened thanks to Pasquale Foggia's angled drive at the near post.
Trezeguet's reactions weren't as sharp as they could have been, as when Storari parried an Alessandro Del Piero effort straight at his feet, the Frenchman could only ricochet the ball back into the goalkeeper's arms.
A very lively Nedved created another opportunity that almost saw Del Piero force Storari into a howler, then Tiago drilled wide from distance.
Cagliari threatened to take the lead in first half stoppages, but Emanuele Belardi was alert on Joaquin Larrivey.
After the restart Larrivey had another good chance, nodding wide of the target with only the goalkeeper to beat.
The pressure finally paid off, as Cagliari took a shock lead in Turin. Conti got his head to a corner kick and Bianco came flying in at the back post for the final touch.
It lasted less than 60 seconds before Nedved ran up the other end and fired a rocket into the bottom near corner from 20 metres! Tiago had won back the ball in midfield and it bounced just in front of Storari.
Former Liverpool midfielder Sissoko made his debut by replacing Tiago for the final 25 minutes.
For a moment Cagliari thought they were 2-1 up, as Michele Canini sprung the offside trap from a parried Cossu shot and Belardi just about managed to block the deflected finish on the line.
Hasan Salihamidzic nodded a Camoranesi corner kick on to the side-netting, but it was not enough for a victory.
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Juventus: Belardi; Salihamidzic, Legrottaglie, Grygera, Molinaro; Palladino (Camoranesi 46), Nocerino, Tiago (Sissoko 67), Nedved; Del Piero, Trezeguet
Cagliari: Storari; Ferri, Lopez (Canini 16), Bianco, Agostini; Conti, Parola, Fini, Foggia (Cossu 46); Jeda, Larrivey (Acquafresca 70)
Ref: Giannoccaro
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0708/juv-cag.html