Match report
Del Piero double delights Juve
Wednesday, 7 December 2005
by Matthew Watson-Broughton
from Ernst Happel stadium
Two significant Alessandro Del Piero strikes and a fine Zlatan Ibrahimovic effort allowed Juventus to defeat SK Rapid Wien in Austria and overhaul FC Bayern München to win UEFA Champions League Group A.
Del Piero delight
Bayern's unexpected draw at Club Brugge KV meant that victory would give Juve first place and the visitors duly triumphed thanks to three goals in quick succession at the end of the first half, two coming from Del Piero - the first being Juventus's 300th in the European Champion Clubs' Cup, the second his 182nd in Bianconeri colours, taking him level with Giampiero Boniperti as the club's highest scorer. Ibrahimovic added a solo strike while Marek Kincl hit a second-half consolation for the hosts, who were unable to give coach Josef Hickersberger a winning send-off in his penultimate game before taking charge of Austria's national team in January.
Five new faces
Juventus made five changes, Manuele Blasi replacing the injured Emerson while Adrian Mutu, Federico Balzaretti, Robert Kovač and Del Piero were given the chance to impress. Rapid, meanwhile, showed only one alteration from their weekend fixture, Sebastian Martínez making way for Peter Hlinka in central midfield. Despite the changes, Juve were quickly at ease and Patrick Vieira nearly found a way through in the eighth minute after exchanging passes with Ibrahimovic, but Rapid goalkeeper Helge Payer was quickly off his line to avert the danger. Juventus had ample opportunity to stream forward but, despite plenty of possession, there were few chances for Fabio Capello's men who appeared to miss David Trezeguet's ability to lead the line.
Ivanschitz chances
Rapid's Andreas Ivanschitz forced visiting goalkeeper Christian Abbiati into the first meaningful save with a dipping free-kick and had an even better opening just after the half-hour when Kincl's cross found him free but his downward header was palmed away by a sprawling Abbiati. Rapid had cause to regret that miss almost immediately as Del Piero's long-range free-kick left Payer helpless for the Italian club's landmark European Cup goal.
Juve take command
Their 301st came three minutes before the break as Ibrahimovic was quickest to a loose ball midway inside the Rapid half and advanced unchecked before calmly stroking a low shot inside Payer's right-hand post. The home side tried to rally and Kincl's back-heel gave György Korsós a glimpse of goal but the midfielder aimed too high. Juve again made the Austrian team pay within seconds as Mauro Camoranesi's right-wing centre fell to Ibrahimovic, whose effort was diverted past Payer by Del Piero for his record-equalling strike.
Rapid response
Capello decided to withdraw Ibrahimovic for Marcelo Zalayeta at the start of the second half, but it was Rapid who threatened first through Ivanschitz, whose low drive was gathered by Abbiati. The encouragement the home crowd wanted did arrive in the 52nd minute, however, as Hlinka returned an Ivanschitz corner into the penalty area and Kincl slipped the ball under Abbiati for his second UEFA Champions League goal of the season.
Testing times
Muhammet Akagündüz tested Abbiati again at his near post as Rapid hinted at an unlikely recovery and Juventus sought to regain control by replacing Mutu with Gianluca Pessotto, but instead Rapid captain Steffen Hofmann saw a curling free-kick deflected just wide. Andreas Dober then found space to shoot in the 74th minute yet his attempt sailed high and wide, and from then on chances were rare for either team as Juve played out time safe in the knowledge of a job well done.
source: uefa.com
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