Post by Salem6 on Sept 1, 2008 12:08:55 GMT
Serie A Week 1 - 31/8/08 (19.30 UK)
Fiorentina 1 - 1 Juventus
Nedved 39 (J), Gilardino 89 (F)
Stadio Franchi
Alberto Gilardino snatched a last-gasp equaliser for 10-man Fiorentina when Juventus thought they had won it with Pavel Nedved.
This has always been a bitter rivalry, but the two clubs have acted to calm the waters in recent years and Presidents Andrea Della Valle and Giovanni Cobolli Gigli sat together in the stands, promising to go to dinner afterwards. It was also a battle for the Scudetto between two of the five contenders, especially after Inter, Roma and Milan stuttered earlier this weekend.
Unfortunately, injuries ruled out Adrian Mutu, Riccardo Montolivo, David Trezeguet, Giorgio Chiellini, Cristiano Zanetti and Momo Sissoko. Franco Semioli was suspended and replaced by former Juve midfielder Sergio Almiron. Both teams are in good shape after the Champions League preliminary round.
Fiorentina started with a bang, creating a chance for Alberto Gilardino in the opening 16 seconds! Soon after, Amauri nodded an Alessandro Del Piero cross over. Amauri did well to hook down a chipped Christian Poulsen pass over the defence, but Sebastien Frey did well to close him down.
Claudio Marchisio and Jorge Vargas fired over from distance, but Mario Alberto Santana drilled wide after an Olof Mellberg error. Del Piero only scuffed Mauro Camoranesi's cross, but there was chaos for Fiorentina when Vargas touched on a free kick for Almiron, who didn't notice and Juve nearly scored on the counter.
Frey needed two touches to smother a Del Piero effort, but the deadlock was broken on 39 minutes. It was a well-worked move and Zdenek Grygera got to the byline to roll back for the unmarked Pavel Nedved's tap-in from six yards. It was a great way to celebrate his 36th birthday on Saturday.
Fiorentina continued to give the ball away cheaply and nearly paid for it as Amauri scuffed his header wide. Del Piero had an even better opportunity on the stroke of half-time when sent clear on goal, but he hesitated and Frey stood his ground to block the angled drive.
Cesare Prandelli threw on teen talent Stevan Jovetic for Almiron for the second half. Fiorentina were pouring forward now and Gigi Buffon got a fist to Santana's cross just before Gilardino could head it in from six yards.
An Osvaldo glancing header was charged down in the box, then a chaotic move saw Osvaldo nod a Jovetic cross down and a deflection allowed Buffon to get a hand to it.
Juve were pinned back into their own half and Nicola Legrottaglie did well to clear before Gilardino could go one-on-one with Buffon. Giampaolo Pazzini replaced Osvaldo to give the Viola more power in the air.
Grygera pushed a Gilardino knock-down off the foot of Jovetic and Vargas smashed a free kick wide of the near post from the D. Del Piero curled his set-piece just past the upright.
Gilardino should have equalised for Fiorentina on 72 minutes. He ran on to a through ball and used his strength to hold off Mellberg, but after going round Buffon he stumbled and prodded it well wide. In fairness, the ball appeared to bounce awkwardly.
Gilardino had another good opportunity in the final stages, holding off Legrottaglie to fire just wide of the near post from seven yards.
The tension rose seven minutes from time when Felipe Melo went in very late on Poulsen for a second bookable offence.
However, Fiorentina did not give up and snatched an equaliser with 70 seconds left on the clock! Gilaridino chested Pazzini's knockdown and flicked it round while leaning on Mellberg to turn the defender and slide a precise right-foot finish into the bottom corner. The former Milan star had not scored in a home Serie A game since April 7, 2007.
The action still wasn't over, as Amauri managed to turn between two defenders and get off a fierce strike that Frey palmed out of the near top corner of the net with one strong hand. Moments later Del Piero tried to curl a free kick directly into the goal practically from the byline and went very close.
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Fiorentina: Frey; Zauri, Gamberini, Kroldrup, Vargas; Almiron (Jovetic 54), Felipe Melo, Donadel (Kuzmanovic 78); Santana, Gilardino, Osvaldo (Pazzini 63)
Juventus: Buffon; Grygera, Legrottaglie, Mellberg, Molinaro (De Ceglie 74); Camoranesi (Iaquinta 88), Marchisio, Poulsen, Nedved; Amauri, Del Piero
Ref: Morganti
Sent off: Felipe Melo 83 (F)
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0809/fio-juv.html