Post by Salem6 on Feb 9, 2009 11:56:50 GMT
Serie A Week 23 - 8/2/09 (14.00 UK)
Catania 1 - 2 Juventus
Iaquinta 11 (J), Morimoto 52 (C), Poulsen 91 (J)
Stadio Massimino
Juventus are in second again after an incredible game! Vincenzo Iaquinta scored and was sent off just 12 minutes in, but Christian Poulsen won it at the death.
The Bianconeri needed a victory to recapture second place from Milan, but they were coming off two straight Serie A defeats and were tired from a Coppa Italia penalty shoot-out against Napoli midweek.
The injury crisis also dragged on with Giorgio Chiellini, Cristiano Zanetti, Paolo De Ceglie, Christian Molinaro, Hasan Salihamidzic, Jonathan Zebina and Dario Knezevic sidelined. Alex Del Piero was rested for a new Vincenzo Iaquinta-David Trezeguet partnership. The Sicilians only missed Pablo Ledesma, but had one point from their last five games.
Juventus were unbeaten against Catania, home or away, since September 1964 followed by seven wins and five draws.
Lorenzo Stovini wasted a good chance after four minutes, as a free kick took a double deflection on the way through for the defender to prod wide from six yards.
The Sicilians poured forward as Taka Morimoto sprung the offside trap on Biagianti's pass over the defence, but his first touch let him down to aid Gigi Buffon's save.
However, it was Juventus who took the lead against the run of play. Vincenzo Iaquinta freed himself from Stovini's marking - perhaps with a push - to nod in Mauro Camoranesi's free kick.
Iaquinta went from joy to disappointment in a heartbeat, as he was booked for taking off his jersey to celebrate and moments later received a second card for a tackle from behind. Juve had to play the remaining 78 minutes at the Stadio Massimino with 10 men.
Catania had a fantastic opportunity to equalise on a set play, but Potenza's header was denied from point-blank range by a magnificent Buffon save.
Camoranesi showed fair play when he was running down the right flank and ready to cross, but marker Ciro Capuano pulled up with a suspected thigh strain. The Juve winger put the ball out of play so he could receive treatment.
Amauri was left unmarked to meet a Pavel Nedved free kick, but ballooned it over the bar from seven yards. Morimoto spun round to hit the side-netting and in first half stoppages Buffon got a fingertip to the Jorge Martinez angled drive.
Buffon had done brilliantly up until the 52nd minute. He was caught off his line to push a Giuseppe Mascara looping header straight into the path of Japanese international Morimoto.
Moments later Mascara's corner found Baiocco's volley that clipped the upright at the near post.
Catania had a solid penalty shout for Marco Marchionni's handling offence as he went to stop Mascara, but the referee judged it to be involuntary. It seemed more hand to ball than the other way round.
Marchionni curled over, while Amauri combined with Nedved for a dipping shot palmed out of the far top corner. The Brazilian was holding the fort on his own against the Catania defence to ensure Juve weren't pinned back.
It proved decisive, as Juventus took the lead in stoppages! Amauri knocked down a corner for substitute Christian Poulsen to tap in thanks to a defensive error from Cristian Terlizzi.
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Catania: Bizzarri; Potenza (Terlizzi 80), Silvestre, Stovini, Capuano (Martinez 33); Izco (Carboni 70), Baiocco, Biagianti, Tedesco; Morimoto, Mascara
Juventus: Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Legrottaglie, Molinaro; Camoranesi (Marchionni 50), Sissoko, Tiago (Poulsen 83), Nedved; Amauri, Iaquinta
Ref: Morganti
Sent off: Iaquinta 12 (J)
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