Post by Salem6 on Sept 26, 2011 6:21:51 GMT
Serie A Week 3 - 18/9/11 (14.00 UK)
Siena 0 - 1 Juventus
Matri 54 (J)
Stadio Franchi
Alessandro Matri maintained the 100 per cent Juventus record, but it was tough going in Siena.
Antonio Conte made an emotional return to the club he had taken to promotion from Serie B in May. He came back as the Coach of Juventus with a spectacular opening 4-1 win over Parma under his belt. He rang the changes, introducing Mirko Vucinic for Alessandro Del Piero, while Fabio Grosso replaced the suspended Paolo De Ceglie. Siena had to do without Reginaldo and Gabriele Angella, but boss Giuseppe Sannino promised they would "not be bit-part players in this game."
Juve had won five of their previous six Serie A visits, losing once in 2008.
The tension exploded after 20 minutes when Alessandro Gazzi went in high on Giorgio Chiellini, sparking a scuffle in midfield between numerous players.
Mannini pounced on a poor Andrea Barzagli clearance to go straight for goal, but Gigi Buffon was alert to block.
Chiellini attempted an audacious overhead kick, but it whistled just wide of the upright. Andrea Pirlo had a series of long-range attempts, but did not trouble the Siena shot-stopper.
Siena went extremely close on 37 minutes, as Franco Brienza ran on to a long Gaetano D'Agostino ball over the top and only his disappointing first touch allowed Barzagli to get a sliding tackle in.
After the restart Mirko Vucinic was unable to get on the end of an Emanuele Giaccherini cross.
Juventus finally broke the deadlock with a well-worked move. Giaccherini trapped a long Simone Pepe cross-field pass to set up Vucinic, who feinted a shot, but instead pulled back for Alessandro Matri's finish from seven yards. Matri managed to steer the ball in despite two men on the Siena line.
Chiellini went off with an injury, while Brkic punched a Pirlo free kick out from under the bar.
Siena had a fantastic opportunity to equalise, as a free kick was whipped in for the head of Emanuele Calaio', which beat Buffon to crack the crossbar.
Arturo Vidal had a good chance to put the game beyond doubt, but ballooned over the bar from close range after Alessandro Del Piero's inspired assist.
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Siena: Brkic; Vitiello, Rossettini, Terzi, Del Grosso; Mannini (Grossi 63), Gazzi (Vergassola 71), D'Agostino, Brienza; Calaiò, Gonzalez (Larrondo 63)
Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Chiellini (Bonucci 57), Grosso; Marchisio, Pirlo; Pepe, Vucinic (Vidal 56), Matri (Del Piero 76), Giaccherini
Ref: Valeri
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