Post by Salem6 on Mar 22, 2009 10:31:25 GMT
Serie A Week 29 - 21/3/09 (19.30 UK)
Roma 1 - 4 Juventus
Iaquinta 34, 54 (J), Loria 48 (R), Mellberg 68 (J), Nedved 74 (J)
Stadio Olimpico
Vincenzo Iaquinta's brace, Olof Mellberg and a stunning Pavel Nedved volley crushed Roma 4-1 at the Olimpico.
The Bianconeri had won four on the trot, but arrived against a Roma side fighting for a Champions League spot. Both teams had massive injury problems, as the home side missed Francesco Totti, Simone Perrotta, Marco Cassetti, Juan, Cicinho, Rodrigo Taddei, Alberto Aquilani and the suspended quartet of Souleymane Diamoutene, Marco Motta, Daniele De Rossi and David Pizarro, so Filipe got his first Serie A start. Juve lost Cristiano Zanetti, Mauro Camoranesi, Momo Sissoko, Nicola Legrottaglie, Amauri, Albin Ekdal, Alex Manninger, Paolo De Ceglie and Claudio Marchisio.
Juve were unbeaten here since 2004 and won three of their last four visits. Alexander Doni had a back problem in the warm-up, but was able to start, while Giorgio Chiellini wore a face mask to protect his recently broken nose. Following his excellent performance against Bologna, Sebastian Giovinco pushed Pavel Nedved on to the bench.
Gigi Buffon ran an early risk rushing on to Mirko Vucinic's feet, then Vincenzo Iaquinta wasted an opportunity set up by Sebastian Giovinco as he hesitated when clear on goal.
Zdenek Grygera's error let John Arne Riise through, but Chiellini charged down Max Tonetto's shot. The Italian defender also did well to intercept a through ball for Jeremy Menez. As the move continued Vucinic went down as he performed a lob, aggravating an existing back injury, but was able to continue.
Iaquinta's cross-shot for Hasan Salihamidzic clipped the crossbar and went out on 28 minutes.
It all happened in one move - Julio Baptista failed to control Tonetto's through ball on the counter, then Menez lost it in midfield and Giovinco set up Iaquinta just inside the box for an angled right-foot drive into the far bottom corner.
Menez had the chance to make up for it, but he snatched the shot across the face of goal. Vucinic got in front of Grygera for a fine half-volley from the D that was deflected out for a corner. Philippe Mexes was booked for a pointless tackle on Del Piero.
Within 160 seconds of the restart, Roma had equalised. Simone Loria was left totally unmarked in the six-yard box to volley in a deflected Menez corner kick. It was a crucial morale-booster for the team and above all for Loria, who has been heavily criticised this season and seemed nervous throughout the first half.
Juventus fought back and restored their lead soon after with Iaquinta's second of the game. Grygera's cross took a deflection off Riise and looped into the air right on to Iaquinta's head from five yards. The World Cup winner anticipated Mexes to get to the ball first.
Chiellini's sliding tackle was decisive in cutting off Vucinic as he pulled the trigger from close range. From the resulting corner Iaquinta proved crucial at the other end too, performing a goalline clearance on Mexes' header.
Del Piero combined with Giovinco, but the finish was too weak to trouble Doni. Mexes' header was deflected over, but from the Roma corner Juventus had an incredible opportunity! Del Piero and Iaquinta ran the length of the pitch, but when Alex passed towards an empty net, Riise got back for a decisive goalline clearance.
Vincenzo Montella replaced Loria for a trident attack, pushing Tonetto back. Mexes halted Del Piero in a one-on-one on the edge of the box, but Juventus had the wind in their sails and made it 3-1. Olof Mellberg rose to nod in a corner kick swung in from the right by Del Piero, angling it into the far corner.
Tiago Mendes made way for Nedved, the Czech taking a central midfield role, and Giovinco was replaced by Marco Marchionni. Nedved took only four minutes to score an absolute blinder! A deflected ball looped up into the air for his wonderful left-foot volley from outside the D that dipped mercilessly into the near bottom corner. It was clocked at 80km/h and Doni had no chance.
Roma did not give in and it took a splendid one-handed save from Buffon to deny Julio Baptista's deflected snapshot. Luciano Spalletti only had youth team players on the bench and gave Marco D'Alessandro his Serie A debut a month after his 18th birthday. The youngster almost scored straight away, skipping past two defenders and forcing a desperate save out of Buffon at the near post. Another youth team player, Stojan, also received his debut in stoppages.
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Roma: Doni; Panucci, Mexes, Loria (Montella 62), Riise; Filipe, Brighi, Tonetto; Baptista, Menez (D'Alessandro 82); Vucinic (Stojan 91)
Juventus: Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro; Salihamidzic, Tiago (Nedved 70), Poulsen, Giovinco (Marchionni 72); Del Piero, Iaquinta
Ref: Rocchi
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