Category: <b>Match Reports</b><br><br>In the second week of Serie A’s second leg round, Juventus meet Empoli at the Delle Alpi stadium; Capello must do without suspended Ibrahimovic and unavailable Nedved and chooses Mutu on the left flank and Del Piero next to Trezeguet. The Bianconeri coach had warned his side about Empoli’s dangerousness and the start of the match proves the Bianconeri coach right: after only three minutes, the Tuscans take the lead with Almiron, who drives a free kick from the edge of the box, resulting from a foul by Thuram on Riganò whistled by Mr De Marco, right into the top corner of the goal (0-1). Juventus try to react with a good opening by Vieira for Camoranesi who puts it in from the right but Mutu’s header is caught by Berti. On 11’ minutes, it’s the Romanian in action again but his right-footed shot from outside the area ends out. Six minutes later, Juventus take the draw: Camoranesi shoots a free kick from the right, Cannavaro follows with a header on a dive and beats Berti (1-1). On 22’ minutes, another free kick for Camoranesi but this time the ball is lost out. Little later, Camoranesi threats the Tuscan defence and serves for Del Piero into the area but the ball is hit back and the following header by the Captain ends high over the crossbar. On 37’ minutes, Mutu breaks clear on the left but his cross kick is hit back for a corner. Immediately after, again on Camoranesi’s cross, Cannavaro go for a header but his attempt is neutralized by Berti. In the final minutes of the first half, Balzaretti gets dangerous with a cross pass to Trezeguet but the Frenchman, in an excellent position, is anticipated before being able to hit the ball with his head.
At the start of the second half, Juventus try to score right away with Trezeguet’s header deflecting Camoranesi’s cross but the ball ends out. After 7 minutes, Cagni replaces Almiron with Zanetti; one minute later, Juventus get very close to the second goal: Balzaretti puts it in from the left, Camoranesi volleys from the opposite side but the ball passes across goal and Empoli’s defence can clear. On 12’ minutes, Zambrotta attempts on goal with a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area but it’s out. On 14’ minutes, Tavano substitutes Vannucchi while two minutes later Capello sends Zalayeta and Zebina in to replace Mutu and Balzaretti. On 18’ minutes, Del Piero controls the ball at the edge of the area and seriously threats Berti’s goal but the game had already been stopped as the Captain’s position was offside. Juventus push Empoli back into their own side and start collecting corner kicks; following the tenth kick from the flag, Vieira heads the ball well but it ends out. On 27’ minutes, Emerson goes for a finish from the edge but Berti saves. On 32’ minutes, there it comes the much deserved lead: and it’s still Cannavaro on the scoresheet and again on a header, deflecting Del Piero’s corner kick into the goal (2-1). On 38’ minutes, the Captain may make the result safe but his spectacular shot on the turn firmly hits the crossbar and the same occurs to his left-footed finish one minute later. On 42’ minutes, Camoranesi goes for a header following Zambrotta’s cross but his attempt ends out. It’s the last thrill in a much struggled game, deservedly won by Juventus.
JUVENTUS vs EMPOLI 2-1
GOALS: 3’ f.h. Almiron, 17’ f.h. and 32’ s.h. Cannavaro
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Zambrotta, Thuram, Cannavaro, Balzaretti (16’ s.h. Zebina); Camoranesi, Emerson, Vieira, Mutu (16’ s.h. Zalayeta); Del Piero (47’ s.h. Giannichedda), Trezeguet.
Substitutes: Abbiati, Kovac, Blasi, Olivera.
Coach: Capello
EMPOLI
Berti; Vanigli, Coda, Pratali, Lucchini (35’ s.h. Ascoli); Moro, Ficini, Almiron (7’ s.h. Zanetti); Buscè, Vannucchi (14’ s.h. Tavano); Riganò
Substitutes: Balli, Raggi, Serafini, Pozzi..
Coach: Cagni
REFEREE: De Marco
YELLOW CARDS: 38’ f.h. Vanigli, 45’ f.h. Riganò, 29’ s.h. Vieira
ATTENDANCE: 26,292
PROCEEDS: 41,672 Euros<br><br>Source: Juventus.com
At the start of the second half, Juventus try to score right away with Trezeguet’s header deflecting Camoranesi’s cross but the ball ends out. After 7 minutes, Cagni replaces Almiron with Zanetti; one minute later, Juventus get very close to the second goal: Balzaretti puts it in from the left, Camoranesi volleys from the opposite side but the ball passes across goal and Empoli’s defence can clear. On 12’ minutes, Zambrotta attempts on goal with a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area but it’s out. On 14’ minutes, Tavano substitutes Vannucchi while two minutes later Capello sends Zalayeta and Zebina in to replace Mutu and Balzaretti. On 18’ minutes, Del Piero controls the ball at the edge of the area and seriously threats Berti’s goal but the game had already been stopped as the Captain’s position was offside. Juventus push Empoli back into their own side and start collecting corner kicks; following the tenth kick from the flag, Vieira heads the ball well but it ends out. On 27’ minutes, Emerson goes for a finish from the edge but Berti saves. On 32’ minutes, there it comes the much deserved lead: and it’s still Cannavaro on the scoresheet and again on a header, deflecting Del Piero’s corner kick into the goal (2-1). On 38’ minutes, the Captain may make the result safe but his spectacular shot on the turn firmly hits the crossbar and the same occurs to his left-footed finish one minute later. On 42’ minutes, Camoranesi goes for a header following Zambrotta’s cross but his attempt ends out. It’s the last thrill in a much struggled game, deservedly won by Juventus.
JUVENTUS vs EMPOLI 2-1
GOALS: 3’ f.h. Almiron, 17’ f.h. and 32’ s.h. Cannavaro
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Zambrotta, Thuram, Cannavaro, Balzaretti (16’ s.h. Zebina); Camoranesi, Emerson, Vieira, Mutu (16’ s.h. Zalayeta); Del Piero (47’ s.h. Giannichedda), Trezeguet.
Substitutes: Abbiati, Kovac, Blasi, Olivera.
Coach: Capello
EMPOLI
Berti; Vanigli, Coda, Pratali, Lucchini (35’ s.h. Ascoli); Moro, Ficini, Almiron (7’ s.h. Zanetti); Buscè, Vannucchi (14’ s.h. Tavano); Riganò
Substitutes: Balli, Raggi, Serafini, Pozzi..
Coach: Cagni
REFEREE: De Marco
YELLOW CARDS: 38’ f.h. Vanigli, 45’ f.h. Riganò, 29’ s.h. Vieira
ATTENDANCE: 26,292
PROCEEDS: 41,672 Euros<br><br>Source: Juventus.com
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