Mood:
irritatedTopic: Serie A 2005-2006
Serie A Tim - 22 Apr 2006 - 5:36 PM
After a disappointing first half ended with ten-man Lazio one goal ahead, Juventus drew on their experience and passion to salvage a point from the game. With less than five minutes remaining, Trezegol struck to cancel out Rocchi’s opener and send the home crowd wild. The draw, coupled with Milan’s victory over Messina, means that Juve currently have a three point lead over their closest rivals with three games to play.
Although Juventus dominated the first half, they were given a warning of Lazio’s attacking potency as early as the fourth minute when Rocchi’s snap-shot from the left hand side of the area was tipped over by Abbiati. Five minutes later Juve began to exert themselves on the game and both Mutu and Trezeguet tested Peruzzi before the ‘keeper was called into action yet again after Emerson’s flick-on was hit goalwards by Ibrahimovic. From the resulting corner Vieira rose highest to thunder a header onto the post. After Patrick’s agonising effort, the bianconeri continued to attack and Zlatan almost broke the deadlock twenty minutes into the half. Surging forward on the left wing, Nedved laid a perfect pass to Ibra who took a few touches before striking the ball towards the bottom corner, a shot that Peruzzi could only deflect for a corner.
With Juventus controlling much of the possession, a rare attack from Lazio ended with the biancazzuri one goal ahead. A teasing low cross from Pandev found Rocchi at the near-post, and the Lazio striker’s first time effort beat Abbiati. Five minutes later and Lazio thought they had doubled their advantage only for Dabo’s long-range effort to be disallowed. Clearly upset by the decision, Dabo continued his protests with the referee and received a straight red-card for dissent.
Despite further chances for Emerson and Nedved, Juventus entered the tunnel at half-time one goal behind. Capello took the opportunity to change his formation, and sent Del Piero and Balzaretti on in place of Mutu and Balzaretti. Ironically, it was the latter who was to have the better of the early chances, twice trying his luck from distance and calling Peruzzi into action.
With Lazio a man down, Juve knew it was an opportunity to pour pressure on their opponents, and were relentless in attack. Nedved and Zambrotta caused problems on the wings and Vieira panicked the Romans with his height and power at set-plays. With time running out, Pavel and Patrick combined to find Trezeguet unmarked in front of goal. The Frenchman coolly collected Nedved’s flick-on and buried his shot beyond the stranded Peruzzi.
Juventus could have extended their lead in the dying seconds, but Nedved saw his shot pushed around the post by the opposition ‘keeper.
JUVENTUS-LAZIO 1-1
GOALS: 29’ Rocchi, 87’ Trezeguet
JUVENTUS: Abbiati; Zebina (45’ Balzaretti), Thuram, Cannavaro, Zambrotta;
Mutu (45’ Del Piero), Emerson (72’ Blasi), Vieira, Nedved; Ibrahimovic,
Trezeguet. Coach. Capello. Substitutes: Buffon, Chiellini, Kovac, Zalayeta.
LAZIO: Peruzzi; Oddo, Siviglia, Cribari, Zauri; Behrami, Dabo, Mudingayi (8’
Belleri), Mauri, Pandev (58’ Bonanni); Rocchi (71’ Tare). Coach. Rossi.
Substitutes:Ballotta, Piccolo, Keller, Di Canio.
REFEREE: Paparesta
CAUTIONED: 28’ Vieira, 78’ Tare, 91’ Zauri
SENT-OFF: 34’ Dabo
SPECTATORS: 33.898
RECEIPTS: 476.988
