Post by Salem6 on Oct 6, 2008 12:02:15 GMT
Serie A Week 6 - 5/10/08 (14.00 UK)
Juventus 1 - 2 Palermo
Miccoli 23 (P), Del Piero 39 (J), Mchedlidze 81 (P)
Stadio Olimpico
19-year-old Mchedlidze grabbed an historic Palermo victory away to 10-man Juventus following Momo Sissoko's red card.
Claudio Ranieri was under pressure going into this weekend after three consecutive draws against Sampdoria, Catania and BATE Borisov. The average of one goal per game was also causing consternation, made worse by the absence through injury of David Trezeguet, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Nicola Legrottaglie, Cristiano Zanetti, Giorgio Chiellini and Jonathan Zebina. Gigi Buffon returned between the sticks and Sebastian Giovinco took on the trequartista role in a new trident system.
There was a definite sense of deja vu in Turin between former Palermo hero Amauri and ex-Juve men Fabrizio Miccoli, Antonio Nocerino and Federico Balzaretti. The Sicilians had just one win from their previous 22 visits, a 4-2 result in 1961-62.
Alessandro Del Piero was halted for an incorrect offside flag when clear on goal, but Momo Sissoko had to come sliding in from six yards to cut off Edison Cavani on Mattia Cassani's counter-attack.
Palermo took a shock lead in Turin. A Fabio Liverani free kick to the near post found Cavani's volley and a fine Buffon one-handed save, but he could do nothing on Miccoli's follow-up from five yards. However, Miccoli picked up an injury and went off soon after.
There was more bad news for Juve, as Olof Mellberg limped off with an upper thigh problem. Hasan Salihamidzic came on and Zdenek Grygera had to make do in central defence.
Marco Amelia captured a Giovinco free kick and Claudio Ranieri switched to a 4-4-2 with the Under-21 international on the left flank.
Captain Del Piero got Juve back into the game before the break, curling in one of his trademark free kicks from 20 metres that swung past Amelia at the far post.
However, Sissoko had already been booked and seconds after the equaliser received a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Giulio Migliaccio.
Another Del Piero free kick in the second half whistled wide, but Palermo wanted to win it and threw on young striker Mchedlidze.
Del Piero wanted a penalty for a collision with Migliaccio, but the referee waved play on, and on the counter Palermo scored to take the lead! Fabio Simplicio's through ball allowed 19-year-old Mchedlidze to place a low drive past Buffon. It was the first Sereie A goal of his career.
Del Piero curled a free kick over in stoppages, but Simplicio incredibly ballooned over from eight yards on Cavani's cutback.
There was a bizarre moment in the final seconds, as Grygera snapped off a tooth in an accidental collision.
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Juventus: Manninger; Grygera, Mellberg (Salhamidzic 34), Knezevic, De Ceglie; Sissoko, Poulsen (Camoranesi 65), Marchisio; Giovinco (Nedved 80); Amauri, Del Piero
Palermo: Amelia; Balzaretti, Carrozzieri, Bovo, Cassani; Nocerino (Tedesco 79), Liverani, Bresciano (Mchedlildze 60); Simplicio; Miccoli (Migliaccio 29), Cavani
Ref: Tagliavento
Sent off: Sissoko 40 (J)
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0809/juv-pal.html