Post by Salem6 on Feb 16, 2009 11:20:35 GMT
Serie A Week 24 - 15/2/09 (14.00 UK)
Juventus 1 - 1 Sampdoria
Pazzini 10 (S), Amauri 62 (J)
Stadio Olimpico
Amauri's diving header was not enough to earn Juventus a victory, even though they hit the woodwork four times!
The Bianconeri hoped to take advantage of the head-to-head between Inter and Milan, but first had to get past Sampdoria, something they had not managed in two years. David Trezeguet was set to start, but pulled out with a muscular problem, joining Momo Sissoko, Hasan Salihamidzic, Cristiano Zanetti, Jonathan Zebina, Dario Knezevic, Paolo De Ceglie and the suspended Vincenzo Iaquinta. Samp were missing Claudio Bellucci, Gennaro Delvecchio, Accardi, Hugo Campagnaro and Stefano Lucchini.
Tacticians Claudio Ranieri and Walter Mazzarri had met four times before and all of them ended in draws.
Pavel Nedved had the first chance as he surged forward and stung Luca Castellazzi's palms from 20 metres, then Olof Mellberg nodded Alessandro Del Piero's cross off target and a cheeky Del Piero backheel whistled wide.
Sampdoria took a surrpise lead with Giampaolo Pazzini's fourth career goal against Juventus. Antonio Cassano did well to wait for the right moment and thread through for Pazzini, who was in play even though teammate Paolo Sammarco was not. Pazzini beat Gigi Buffon at the near post.
Amauri only had to make contact with Del Piero's taut cross from the left, but Andrea Raggi got the decisive touch from four yards to deny a certain goal.
Mauro Camoranesi couldn't keep his header down from a Nedved cross and a fairly desperate diving header intercepted Amauri's assist for Del Piero. The Samp defence held out against Camoranesi's cross, too, as Gastaldello risked an own goal by anticipating Amauri.
Nedved was impressive on the day and blasted wide, but above all Castellazzi rushed off his line to close down Amauri as the Brazilian spun round his marker from six yards.
Nedved was very unlucky on 39 minutes when he sprung the offside trap on Del Piero's assist and drew the goalkeeper out, but his delicate finish thumped the base of the upright with an open goal! It was rolling in before Padalino's goalline clearance.
It was one-way traffic, but in the final minute of the first half Cassano rode a Christian Molinaro tackle to go on the counter, his pass for Pazzini intercepted by a double deflection.
Nedved's luck wasn't getting any better, as in stoppages his header from a Camoranesi free kick cracked against the crossbar!
Sebastian Giovinco replaced Christian Poulsen for the second half, sending Nedved into central midfield. However, there was a huge scare for Juve, as Molinaro deflected a Cassano cross that looped over Buffon and on to the far post!
Giovinco's change of pace took him to the byline, but neither Amauri nor Del Piero could convert the cutback.
Juventus eventually got their equaliser on the hour mark, as Amauri flung himself at Giovinco's sweeping cross with a brave diving header, getting in front of Manuel Da Costa.
Del Piero should've put them in front minutes later, but his free kick ricocheted off both the crossbar and then the upright before bouncing out!
Gastaldello was stretchered off after he caught his studs and sprained his knee. There was also a worrying sign for the upcoming UEFA Cup game, as Cassano asked to be substituted due to a small muscular problem.
Giovinco created a great chance late on, as he went on a solo run and Castellazzi needed two attempts to eventually smother his shot. The Samp goalkeeper also plucked a dangerous cross-shot out from under his bar.
Marco Marchionni cut back for Del Piero, but the captain was too late to make contact, while Castellazzi again denied Giovinco.
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Juventus: Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Legrottaglie, Molinaro; Camoranesi (Marchionni 68), Poulsen (Giovinco 46), Tiago (Marchisio 89), Nedved; Amauri, Del Piero
Sampdoria: Castellazzi; Stankevicius, Gastaldello (Ferri 71), Raggi (Da Costa 58); Padalino, Sammarco, Palombo, Franceschini, Pieri; Pazzini, Cassano (Ziegler 76)
Ref: Orsato
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0809/juv-sam.html