Post by Salem6 on May 18, 2008 21:14:11 GMT
Serie A Week 38 - 17/5/08 (14.00 UK)
Sampdoria 3 - 3 Juventus
Del Piero 7, pen 65 (J), Trezeguet pen 16 (J), Cassano 22 (S), Maggio 40 (S), Montella 81 (S)
Stadio Marassi
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Alex Del Piero is top of the scorers' charts with 21 goals after a thoroughly entertaining 3-3 draw at Sampdoria.
This match was brought forward to Saturday afternoon because a visit to Genoa from the Pope on the Sunday would lead to large numbers of people flocking into the city. It was also made possible by the fact both teams had nothing more to contend and would not have an effect on any of the other sides in Serie A, as a UEFA Cup spot and Champions League football were assured.
Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet were both tied with Marco Borriello on 19 goals and looking for the Capocannoniere crown. Mauro Camoranesi, Antonio Nocerino and Zdenek Grygera sat out bans, but Juve had a very strong record against the Blucerchiati, undefeated here since 1995.
Claudio Bellucci is out for several months with an Achilles tendon injury, while Gigi Buffon, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Cristiano Zanetti, Luca Castellazzi, Sergio Volpi and Stefano Lucchi were sidelined.
In the opening 30 seconds Trezeguet volleyed just off target, but it was Del Piero who opened the scoring with a wonderful team move. Pavel Nedved dribbled past Hugo Campagnaro and threaded through brilliantly for Del Piero to stroke in with the inside of his left foot. It was the captain's ninth goal in the last seven games.
Antonio Cassano went on a dizzying run cut short at the byeline by Giorgio Chiellini, but Del Piero sprung the offside trap at the other end and was tripped by Mirko Pieri. Despite being the primary penalty taker, Del Piero left it to Trezeguet to convert powerfully into the top corner, so they were both level on 20 goals.
Jonathan Zebina had penalty appeals moments later for an almost identical trip from Campagnaro, but this time the referee waved play on.
Sampdoria got one back with a moment of genius from Cassano. He went on another spectacular run, this time down the left flank from Angelo Palombo's pass. He dropped a shoulder to leave two defenders stranded with his dummy and smash the shot in from the tightest of angles with the aid of a deflection off Cristian Molinaro.
Momo Sissoko was fortunate to avoid a second booking after 24 minutes, but Antonio Mirante palmed a Trezeguet header out from under the crossbar.
Sampdoria started a fierce fightback and achieved it with a cracker from Christian Maggio. It was a goal out of nowhere, as a shot was deflected into his path for a sudden strike with the outside of his right foot into the far bottom corner of the net. Emanuele Belardi could've been quicker to it, but was stunned by the snapshot from 20 metres.
In first half stoppages Bonazzoli ran on to Cassano's through ball and a clumsy Chiellini sliding tackle failed to get the ball, so the referee pointed to the spot. Cassano stepped up and incredibly fired it straight at Belardi! The goalkeeper didn't even have to move from the centre of the goal and Cassano also failed to turn in the loose ball!
After the restart Belardi came flying out to deny Cassano one-on-one, while Trezeguet just failed to turn Nedved's pullback in from six yards and Guglielmo Stendardo nodded a free header wide from the resulting corner.
Sissoko had already run a risk in the first half and foolishly went clattering into Paolo Sammarco for an inevitable second booking.
Cassano set up Maggio to test Belardi, but Del Piero dribbled between three players and was tripped by Accardi for his second penalty of the game. This time the captain took it and converted by sending Mirante the wrong way and going to the top of the Capocannoniere charts with 21 goals, matching his personal best in Serie A set in 1998.
Samp hit back and moments later Maggio's cross flashed across the face of goal inches away from Cassano's head.
There was a curious moment when Claudio Ranieri replaced Del Piero and the goal hero was visibly irritated by the decision. He wanted to stay on the field and continue his Capocannoniere challenge.
Cassano volleyed past the near post, but it was substitute Vincenzo Montella who scored his first goal since a devastating injury that kept him out for most of the season. Cassano did all the work by running down the left flank and pulling back for the unmarked Montella to thump home a left-foot rocket from seven yards. He hadn't hit the back of the net since November 10, 2007 against Empoli.
Trezeguet was flagged offside clear on goal, but Ranieri also upset Alessandro Birindelli, who was not given a couple of minutes in his final ever game after 11 years at Juventus.
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Sampdoria: Mirante; Campagnaro (Sala 61), Gastaldello, Accardi; Maggio, Sammarco, Palombo, Franceschini (Delvecchio 68), Pieri; Bonazzoli (Montella 71), Cassano
Juventus: Belardi; Zebina, Legrottaglie (Stendardo 54), Chiellini, Molinaro; Salihamidzic (Castiglia 89), Sissoko, Tiago, Nedved; Trezeguet, Del Piero (Marchionni 71)
Ref: Valeri
Missed penalty: Cassano 45 (S)
Sent off: Sissoko 59 (J)
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0708/sam-juv.html