Coppa: Juve undone in Napoli
Sunday 27 August, 2006
Juventus are out of the Coppa Italia after a dramatic 3-3 draw at Napoli, Gigi Buffon eventually missing a penalty in the shoot-out after Mauro Camoranesi’s dismissal.
Juve got off to a great start at the packed out Stadio San Paolo, where 60,000 fans crammed in to the legendary arena, as after 27 minutes Giorgio Chiellini nodded in Federico Balzaretti’s cross.
However, after Cristian Bucchi saw a good chance charged down by the defence, the former Modena hitman equalised just before the break with an acrobatic volley.
Bucchi was Serie B’s top scorer last term and again went close with a header, so it was no real surprise when Napoli capitalised on their good play to take the lead. Emanuele Calaio ran on to a defence-splitting pass to waltz round World Cup winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Didier Deschamps had to reinforce the side and threw on Alessandro Del Piero for Valeri Bojinov. As against Cesena in the last round, Pinturicchio’s entrance made all the difference, as he unleashed a curling strike from the edge of the box that slammed in off the upright.
Inacio Pia wasted a glorious opportunity for the home side and it went to extra time, where Marco Marchionni brought a tough save out of Gennaro Iezzo and Cristiano Zanetti’s shot was charged down.
Mauro Camoranesi replaced Pavel Nedved and did little to endear himself to the Juventus fans, as he was sent off for elbowing Montervino soon after stepping on to the field. Napoli didn’t have an advantage for long, as moments later Grava also saw red for a second bookable offence.
The drama was most definitely not over yet in an incredible night at the San Paolo. Del Piero thought he had secured victory for Juventus by turning in Balzaretti’s assist with 120 seconds to go.
However, Paolo Cannavaro – the younger brother of ex-Juve captain Fabio – sent the home crowd wild with a spectacular overhead kick right at the death. The final score was 3-3 and only penalties could separate the two fallen giants of Italian football.
Ivano Trotta beat Buffon and the goalkeeper bizarrely took Juve’s first spot-kick himself, but fired it off target. Bucchi and Maurizio Domizzi also converted for Napoli, but Sam Dalla Bona’s effort was saved. Tomas Guzman and Alessandro Birindelli scored for the Bianconeri, then Marco Marchionni’s kick was blocked by Iezzo. Cannavaro had the decisive kick and this time Buffon kept him out, so Del Piero kept his cool to level the scores after five penalties each.
The shoot-out continued with Montervino, Chiellini, Amodio scoring, but Balzaretti fired wide to hand victory to Napoli.
The Azzurri continue their Coppa Italia adventure, winning on penalties after a 3-3 draw, and go on to face Parma in the next phase.
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