Post by Salem6 on Dec 8, 2008 10:42:28 GMT
Serie A Week 15 - 7/12/08 (14.00 UK)
Lecce 1 - 2 Juventus
Giovinco 57 (J), Cacia 83 (L), Amauri 89 (J)
Stadio Via Del Mare
Amauri's last-gasp header and Sebastian Giovinco's first goal for Juventus kept them in the Scudetto hunt despite a stunning Daniele Cacia volley.
The Old Lady were back on Inter's trail, albeit with a six-point gap, having won seven of their last nine games in all competition. Last week Alessandro Del Piero celebrated his 250th goal for the club in a 4-0 mauling of Reggina, but joined the injury list with Mauro Camoranesi, David Trezeguet, Gigi Buffon, Jonathan Zebina, Tiago Mendes, Christian Poulsen, Hasan Salihamidzic and Dario Knezevic. At least Cristiano Zanetti was fit for the bench for the first time this season, but Vincenzo Iaquinta pulled out that morning with a neck problem, so Amauri and Sebastian Giovinco were the only available forwards.
Lecce weren't generally pushovers at the Via del Mare, having held Milan, Palermo and Udinese here, but they hadn't beaten Juve since a 2-0 scoreline in 1999. Guglielmo Stendardo returned after skipping the 1-1 draw at Catania so he could sit exams for his Law degree.
Giorgio Chiellini and Nicola Legrottaglie got in each others' way and bundled Giovinco's free kick wide. There was chaos in the Lecce box when Francesco Benussi flapped a cross into the path of Pavel Nedved, but both the Czech and Momo Sissoko were charged down by defenders. Nedved had timid penalty appeals, but seemed to let himself fall.
Giovinco spun round in the area for another shot blocked by Lecce shirts, then one of his free kicks stung Benussi's palms.
Marco Marchionni's first touch let him down when sent clear by Amauri and he eventually fell when Benussi came out to smother.
The goalkeeper blocked a Marchionni free kick after the restart, then Giovinco dribbled to the byline and cut back for Amauri to fire over.
Giovinco eventually opened the scoring with a fantastic free kick. Similar to Del Piero, he curled it into the near top corner as it dipped over the wall, but Benussi did get a hand to it. It was his first Serie A goal in a Juventus jersey.
Amauri had one charged down moments later, but Lecce hit back with Tiribocchi's header skimming the base of the upright.
Nicola Legrottaglie received a yellow card and will be suspended for next week's showdown with Milan.
Lecce were pushing forward in the closing 15 minutes and came so close to an equaliser. Jorge Castillo was unmarked to turn a free header over at the back post! Giuliatto's cross from the left was perfect for the Uruguayan.
Lecce got their goal soon after with substitute Daniele Cacia, who had been on for three minutes. The former Fiorentina striker scored a wonderful strike, letting the cross drop for a precise angled left-foot volley from seven yards that ricocheted in off the inside of the far post.
Chiellini was off balance and couldn't make the most of Giovinco's free kick, but Juventus restored their advantage in the final minute at the Via del Mare. Amauri peeled away from Stendardo for a soaring header from six yards on De Ceglie's cross from the right.
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Lecce: Benussi; Schiavi (Giuliatto 69), Stendardo, Fabiano, Esposito; Munari (Cacia 80), Giacomazzi, Vives, Ariatti (Caserta 70); Castillo, Tiribocchi
Juventus: Manninger; Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Marchionni (De Ceglie 82), Sissoko, Marchisio, Nedved; Giovinco, Amauri
Ref: Pierpaoli
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0809/lec-juv.html