Post by Salem6 on Mar 10, 2008 9:35:24 GMT
Serie A Week 27 - 9/3/08 (19.30 UK)
Genoa 0 - 2 Juventus
Grygera 25 (J), Trezeguet 33 (J)
Stadio Ferraris
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Trezeguet's first goal in almost two months and a Zdenek Grygera screamer put Juventus back on track in Genoa, but Cristiano Zanetti is injured.
The Bianconeri desperately needed points after the 3-2 home defeat to Fiorentina put third place in serious doubt. Pavel Nedved continued his ban, but Giorgio Chiellini returned to the line-up. The Grifone were pushing for a UEFA Cup spot and had Ivan Juric suspended, but Marco Borriello recovered from injury to face David Trezeguet in a battle of the Capocannonieri. It was a special game for Gigi Buffon, a lifelong Genoa fan.
The home side had the first attempt, Borriello turning over from close range after Nicola Legrottaglie's error. However, Gaetano De Rosa's horribly scuffed clearance nearly turned into an embarrasing own goal.
Julio Cesar Leon's cross flashed across the face of goal with Borriello unable to get the decisive touch at the back post. Leon curled one of his trademark free kicks over.
Juventus took the lead with their first real attempt on 25 minutes. A Jonathan Zebina free kick was not cleared effectively and Zdenek Grygera unleashed a stunning right-foot effort that whistled under the bar with remarkable force.
Grygera was also crucial to the second goal, as he nutmegged a defender, allowing Trezeguet to spring the offside trap and place an angled drive in at the near post. It was the Frenchman's first goal since January 27.
There was a bizarre moment on the sidelines, as a mouse was walking along near the Juventus bench!
After the restart Hasan Salihamidzic flashed a shot inches past the base of the far post and Abdoullay Konko had a similar outcome at the other end of the pitch.
Genoa were very unlucky not to pull one back on 50 minutes, as Borriello and Giorgio Chiellini came sliding in from six yards and Buffon performed a stunning reaction save to push the ball on to the inside of the post.
Ex-Juve players traded places as Marco Di Vaio came off the bench for Giuseppe Sculli. Alessandro Del Piero flashed a shot off target and Di Vaio's header skimmed the woodwork from a corner.
During a Genoa counter Cristiano Zanetti pulled up clutching the back of his right thigh and it looks like a nasty strain that could keep the midfielder out for several weeks.
Vincenzo Iaquinta replaced Del Piero and almost scored with his first touch, as Alessio Scarpi hit his clearance straight at the striker, but was able to smother the finish.
Genoa threw on forward Figueroa in the final 10 minutes for an all-attack 4-2-4 system. Iaquinta had a counter deflected past the post by Domenico Criscito, then Camoranesi went on a determined run at the byeline, dispossessing Konko to test Scarpi at the near post.
Figueroa should have snatched a consolation goal at the death, but he came sliding in to meet a cross and turned it past the base of the upright.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Genoa: Scarpi; A Lucarelli, De Rosa (Figueroa 78), Criscito; Rossi, Milanetto (Vanden Borre 63), Konko, Fabiano; Leon, Borriello, Sculli (Di Vaio 59)
Juventus: Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grygera; Camoranesi, Sissoko (Nocerino 69), Zanetti (Tiago 74), Salihamidzic; Del Piero (Iaquinta 78), Trezeguet
Ref: Morganti
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0708/gen-juv.html