Post by Salem6 on Jan 19, 2004 11:06:20 GMT
Alessandro del Piero hit a hat-trick, including two penalties, as Juventus maintained their pursuit of Serie A leaders Roma with a comfortable 4-2 win against Siena in wintry conditions in Turin.
Before a late flurry from Siena which resulted in two consolation goals from Nicola Ventola, the biggest threat to Juve's progress appeared to be the snow which covered the Delle Alpi pitch.
The match had even been threatened with a postponement but they did eventually kick off with a red ball and with the lines on the pitch painted red.
Unfamiliar conditions they may have been, but the Bianconeri looked very much at home and they took the lead after 15 minutes from the penalty spot.
Daniele Delli Carri was adjudged to have fouled Antonio Conte inside the area and Del Piero made no mistake, sending Generoso Rossi the wrong way from 12 yards.
Marcello Lippi's men doubled their advantage nine minutes before the break with French international David Trezeguet on target.
He was played in by Gianluca Zambrotta, beat Delli Carri and sent a precise shot past Rossi to make it 2-0.
There was no let up for Siena after the break as Juventus came out determined to hammer home their advantage and they did just that by increasing their lead seven minutes into the second half.
Del Piero was upended inside the area by Roberto D'Aversa and the Italy striker got up to convert the spot-kick himself.
D'Aversa could have reduced the arrears, and made up for his earlier mistake, shortly afterwards but missed an open goal and Juve capitalised on their good fortune by netting their fourth of the afternoon after 64 minutes.
Del Piero received the ball inside the area and, totally unmarked, had plenty of time to pick his spot before firing past the helpless Rossi.
Siena had been comprehensively outplayed up to that point but they mounted a late fightback which made the scoreline more respectable.
Behind their improvement was half-time substitute Ventola, brought on at the break for the ineffective Enrico Chiesa.
It was the former Inter Milan striker who made it 4-1 from the penalty spot after Gianluigi Buffon had brought down Nikola Lazetic.
And the same player reduced the deficit further by dribbling past the entire Juve back four before finishing cleverly past Buffon with nine minutes to go.
Juve were suddenly looking vulnerable and Tore Andre Flo could have set up a grandstand finish had he not headed wastefully over the bar less than 60 seconds after Ventola's second of the afternoon.
The visitors also had a goal by Fernando Menegazzo disallowed for offside deep into injury time.
Juve hung on, however, and they remain three points behind Roma.
www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/italy/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=international_feed/04/01/18/SOCCER_Ita-Juventus_Nightlead.html
Before a late flurry from Siena which resulted in two consolation goals from Nicola Ventola, the biggest threat to Juve's progress appeared to be the snow which covered the Delle Alpi pitch.
The match had even been threatened with a postponement but they did eventually kick off with a red ball and with the lines on the pitch painted red.
Unfamiliar conditions they may have been, but the Bianconeri looked very much at home and they took the lead after 15 minutes from the penalty spot.
Daniele Delli Carri was adjudged to have fouled Antonio Conte inside the area and Del Piero made no mistake, sending Generoso Rossi the wrong way from 12 yards.
Marcello Lippi's men doubled their advantage nine minutes before the break with French international David Trezeguet on target.
He was played in by Gianluca Zambrotta, beat Delli Carri and sent a precise shot past Rossi to make it 2-0.
There was no let up for Siena after the break as Juventus came out determined to hammer home their advantage and they did just that by increasing their lead seven minutes into the second half.
Del Piero was upended inside the area by Roberto D'Aversa and the Italy striker got up to convert the spot-kick himself.
D'Aversa could have reduced the arrears, and made up for his earlier mistake, shortly afterwards but missed an open goal and Juve capitalised on their good fortune by netting their fourth of the afternoon after 64 minutes.
Del Piero received the ball inside the area and, totally unmarked, had plenty of time to pick his spot before firing past the helpless Rossi.
Siena had been comprehensively outplayed up to that point but they mounted a late fightback which made the scoreline more respectable.
Behind their improvement was half-time substitute Ventola, brought on at the break for the ineffective Enrico Chiesa.
It was the former Inter Milan striker who made it 4-1 from the penalty spot after Gianluigi Buffon had brought down Nikola Lazetic.
And the same player reduced the deficit further by dribbling past the entire Juve back four before finishing cleverly past Buffon with nine minutes to go.
Juve were suddenly looking vulnerable and Tore Andre Flo could have set up a grandstand finish had he not headed wastefully over the bar less than 60 seconds after Ventola's second of the afternoon.
The visitors also had a goal by Fernando Menegazzo disallowed for offside deep into injury time.
Juve hung on, however, and they remain three points behind Roma.
www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/italy/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=international_feed/04/01/18/SOCCER_Ita-Juventus_Nightlead.html