Post by Salem6 on Apr 6, 2008 20:29:35 GMT
Serie A Week 32 - 6/4/08 (19.30 UK)
Palermo 3 - 2 Juventus
Amauri 11, 45 (P), Del Piero 52, 71 (J), Cassani 89 (P)
Stadio Barbera
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A magnificent Amauri brace was cancelled out by Alex Del Piero, but Mattia Cassani's cracker gave Palermo a 3-2 victory.
Stefano Colantuono made his home 'debut' after an unlucky 1-0 defeat at Napoli last week, but faced another incredibly tough test. Curiously, Colantuono's last match in charge before he was fired was the 5-0 drubbing at Juventus. The Bianconeri were eager to consolidate a Champions League spot and were rested, as their last game with Parma was called off due to the tragic death of a fan.
Alessandro Del Piero celebrated his 553rd official match in a Juve jersey, becoming the all-time top player ahead of Gaetano Scirea.
The Rosanero got off to a splendid start as Amauri drilled wide after 11 seconds and hit the back of the net with a spectacular strike 10 minutes later. Roberto Guana won back the ball in midfield and Amauri pushed forward before unleashing a curling right-foot stunner from 16 metres that slotted into the far top corner just beyond the fingertips of Gigi Buffon.
David Trezeguet had a good chance, but just failed to get a touch to the Alessandro Del Piero cross from the left. The home side were very sprightly and Guana's counter was charged down for a corner.
There were worrying scenes when Guana clashed heads with Pavel Nedved, forehead against forehead, and neither were able to continue. Nedved was stretchered off for Vincenzo Iaquinta, moving Del Piero into a trequartista role, while Guana was rushed off the field to hospital for further treatment although he was conscious.
Play resumed and Del Piero's volley was deflected over off Leandro Rinaudo and Mauro Camoranesi had penalty appeals for a Mattia Cassani shirt-tug.
Giorgio Chiellini had a totally free header from Camoranesi's corner, but couldn't keep the ball down. Moments later Del Piero was stopped clear on goal for an incorrect offside flag.
Cristian Molinaro and Camoranesi blasted over from distance, but Palermo seemed in control and doubled their lead in first half stoppages.
Fabio Caserta got away down the left and floated in a cross for Amauri's powerful header again into the top corner. Buffon got a touch to it, but the header was just too powerful to be kept out.
Claudio Ranieri completed his substitutions at half-time with Hasan Salihamidzic and Tiago Mendes coming on. Within 60 seconds of coming on Tiago clashed heads with Giulio Migliaccio and was left with blood pouring down his face, but he was able to continue after treatment.
Juve got back into the game in determined fashion. Momo Sissoko did most of the work, pushing through a couple of challenges for Alberto Fontana to beat away his strike, but as he was protesting for a push, the ball fell to Del Piero for an angled drive.
Nicola Legrottaglie was almost an unlikely hero as the defender smashed a corker from 31 metres that shaved a coat of paint off the upright. At the other end Caserta fired wide of the near post, while Trezeguet failed to make the most of a lucky ricochet with a weak finish.
Amauri had penalty appeals for a Salihamidzic nudge waved away, but Juventus got back on level terms with another chaotic move. This time it was Trezeguet whose header from a Sissoko cross was palmed away by Fontana, but the goalkeeper could do nothing on Del Piero's follow-up from an almost identical position to his first goal.
Rinaudo risked scoring an own goal and Trezeguet had a shot charged down from seven yards as Juve poured forward in the final minutes.
They should have gone 3-2 up on 80 minutes. Del Piero's sublime free kick cracked against the near upright and Trezeguet's follow-up was desperately palmed over at point-blank range by Fontana.
Trezeguet volleyed just wide of the near post and Iaquinta nodded a Molinaro cross over from six yards when in an offside position.
It all looked as if Juve were going to take the lead at any moment, but against the run of play Palermo restored their advantage with a stunning Cassani effort. A fre kick was cleared to 26 metres and the full-back hit an absolutely fantastic left-foot screamer into the far top corner with Buffon rooted to the spot.
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Palermo: Fontana; Cassani, Rinaudo, Barzagli, Balzaretti; Guana (Tedesco 23), Migliaccio; Jankovic (Zaccardo 81), Simplicio (Bresciano 62), Caserta; Amauri
Juventus: Buffon; Grygera (Salihamidzic 46), Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Camoranesi, Nocerino (Tiago 46), Sissoko, Nedved (Iaquinta 23); Trezeguet, Del Piero
Ref: Morganti
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0708/pal-juv.html