Post by Salem6 on Sept 22, 2008 12:17:47 GMT
Serie A Week 3 - 21/9/08 (14.00 UK)
Cagiari 0 - 1 Juventus
Amauri 39 (J)
Stadio Sant'Elia
Amauri gave Juventus a precious win in Sardinia, but Gianluigi Buffon went off injured and Alex Manninger saved the result in stoppages.
The Sardinians were propping up the table without Michele Canini and Daniele Conti and welcomed a Juve side fresh from a Champions League win over Zenit. David Trezeguet has been ruled out for four months with kneecap tendon surgery, while Alessandro Del Piero, Mauro Camoranesi and Cristiano Zanetti also didn't make the trip. Nicola Legrottaglie was only fit for the bench and Zdenek Grygera in the stands.
Amauri hit the back of the net after 120 seconds, but it was disallowed for Vincenzo Iaquinta's push on Parola in the build-up. At the other end Alessandro Matri nodded a free kick just over.
Marchetti fumbled an Olof Mellberg header out from under the bar, but there was paic following a messy Cristian Molinaro backpass.
Gigi Buffon was called into a tricky save on the half-hour mark, as Matri skipped past Hasan Salihamidzic to sting the goalkeeper's palms from seven yards.
Davide Biondini also went for glory with a curling finish with the outside of his foot that whistled wide.
Juventus finally broke the deadlock on 39 minutes with Amauri's second goal in as many games. Iaquinta flicked on the cross from the right for Amauri to blast a half-volley in from the penalty spot.
There were concerns at half-time, as Buffon was clutching his upper thigh and limped off the field. Alex Manninger took his place for the second period, while Robert Acquafresca replaced Larrivey.
Pavel Nedved and Iaquinta scuffed from promising positions, then the former Udinese striker went for the spectacular overhead kick, just wide.
Manninger smothered a low Acquafresca effort, while Amauri's header from a Nedved cross was palmed wide.
Cagliari's last desperate throw of the dice was Andrea Lazzari, who has an excellent scoring record against Juventus in Serie A and the Coppa Italia with his old club Atalanta.
The Sardinians piled on the pressure and finally managed to at least threaten the Juve goal with Manninger parrying a Nelson Jeda snapshot out from under the bar.
At the other end Amauri held up a cross for Iaquinta to fire wide from six yards and Marchetti had his palms stung by a Nedved screamer.
Cagliari were unlucky not to equalise in the final minute, as Manninger performed a stunning save to deny Matri! One strong hand came out to parry Matri's volley at the back post from Lazzari's long cross.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cagliari: Marchetti; Pisano, Lopez, Bianco, Agostini; Fini (Jeda 62), Biondini, Parola (Lazzari 79); Cossu; Matri, Larrivey (Acquafresca 46)
Juventus: Buffon (Manninger 46); Salihamidzic, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro; Marchionni, Sissoko (Tiago 59), Marchisio (De Ceglie 75), Nedved; Amauri, Iaquinta
Ref: Brighi
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0809/cag-juv.html