Post by Salem6 on Mar 9, 2009 10:06:12 GMT
Serie A Week 27 - 7/3/09 (19.30 UK)
Torino 0 - 1 Juventus
Chiellini 81 (J)
Stadio Olimpico
Giorgio Chiellini's late header gave Juventus a 1-0 Derby della Mole victory over local rivals Torino.
The Bianconeri needed a victory to stay within seven points of Inter, but Toro were unbeaten in seven - six of which were draws - going into the 225th Derby della Mole in all competition. Juve hadn't lost to their rivals since April 1995 and last scored a goal in 2002, firing blanks for five meetings.
Paolo Zanetti and Nicola Legrottaglie sat out bans, while Elvis Abbruscato, Cristiano Zanetti, Paolo De Ceglie, Mauro Camoranesi and Zdenek Grygera were injured. Others were rested ahead of the Champions League match with Chelsea, but Jonathan Zebina made his comeback.
After three minutes Matteo Sereni performed a stunning one-handed save to deny Vincenzo Iaquinta from close range. Hasan Salihamidzic nodded the corner on to the side-netting.
Toro also threatened early on with Roberto Stellone turning a free header over from six yards as a corner was not dealt with. Gigi Buffon got a hand to tip Simone Barone's effort over the bar, then a few minutes later needed another alert save to block Barone's glancing header.
Torino were dominating and Alessandro Rosina drilled wide, but there was controversy on 26 minutes. Sereni somehow scrambled Iaquinta's towering header off the line and replays show the ball had not entirely crossed over. It was an extraordinary 'Gordon Banks' style save.
Sereni again beat away a fierce Claudio Marchisio snapshot from 20 metres, as it bounced in front of him and swerved.
After the restart Amauri trapped a long ball and tested Sereni at the near post, but there was bad news for Torino when Rosina pulled up clutching the back of his thigh and made way for Nicola Ventola.
Zebina is still not match fit and made way for youth team defender Lorenzo Ariaudo. A corner caused problems, but Barone could not squeeze his shot past a sea of legs from point-blank range.
Blerim Dzemaili flung himself at Marchisio to parry a volley in the D, while Sebastian Giovinco's free kick skimmed the bar.
There was a bizarre pinball effect in the Torino box on 72 minutes, as a free kick found Amauri's header and a great Sereni reaction save, then the goalkeeper palmed the Hasan Salihamidzic follow-up on to the upright.
Juventus were doing much better in the second half and broke the deadlock nine minutes from time. A Pavel Nedved free kick into the six-yard box found Giorgio Chiellini for a close-range header. Riccardo Colombo had lost his man and it was a cool finish.
Moments later Iaquinta had a good chance on the counter, but the ball bobbled and the two centre-backs were able to recover.
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Torino: Sereni; Colombo, Natali, Dellafiore, Pisano; Abate, Corini (Saumel 75), Dzemaili, Barone (Gasbarroni 71); Stellone, Rosina (Ventola 51)
Juventus: Buffon; Zebina (Ariaudo 59), Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro; Salihamidzic, Poulsen (Sissoko 84), Marchisio, Giovinco (Nedved 67); Amauri, Iaquinta
Ref: Farina
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0809/tor-juv.html