The win at San Siro was a splendid and much deserved one for Juventus. Capello’s side won and dominated the crucial match of the year, scoring the winning goal with Trezeguet on 29’ minutes, after many other scoring occasions, like the crossbar hit by Del Piero. Now, three days away from the end, the Bianconeri are 3 points clear from Milan.
There’s a marvellous audience at San Siro to attend the great Scudetto challenge. In a sold-out venue, the Bianconeri supporters are a massive presence. Capello restored the Del Piero-Trezeguet partnership, fielding the Frenchman from the very first minute, for the first time after his ankle problems. Emerson is flanked by Appiah centrefield. Ancelotti leans on the attacking pair Shevchenko-Tomasson.
The game starts under a burning sun. The beginnning of the match is well balanced, although it’s Juventus who attack the most. Buffon gets a thrill when he must clear a shot by Shevchenko with his forearm on 19’ minutes but then it’s a one way game played by the Bianconeri. After 29 minutes it’s time for the deserved goal, after a game played with brains and great care. Del Piero moves forward to the left flank, crosses to the midfield, Gattuso hits back, the ball gets back to the Captain who serves Trezeguet with a reverse kick and the Frenchman heads it in. (0-1). Capello’s side gets close to a double score when, on 36’ minutes, Del Piero, served by Camoranesi, shoots a powerful drive from the edge of the box and Dida clears in a two-time intervention.
Milan start the second half attacking. After 7 minutes, Serginho, who replaced Pirlo, crosses to Cafu in the midfield but it ends out. Ancelotti substitutes Tomasson with Inzaghi, who gets dangerous on 12’ minutes: asssisted by Shevchenko, the former Bianconero sprints, Buffon comes off, the bounce favours the striker who, hindered by Zambrotta, cannot get to the ball which finally ends out of the field. Meanwhile, Camoranesi gets injures and must be replaced with Birindelli. After Milan missing such scoring occasion, Capello’s side get back to attack like in the first half and return in control of the game, in a really exciting match. On 17’ minutes, Trezeguet serves Emerson who hooks the ball but his left-footed shot hits the outside of the net. After 20 minutes, Juventus nearly doubles the advantage: after Birindelli’s free kick, Del Piero’s header hits the crossbar. Three minutes later, Shevchenko tries to head it in but he misses the goal. On 29’ minutes, Del Piero shoots a free kick from the left flank, the ball gets to Cannavaro, who deflects it in but the goalkeeper clears. On 32’ minutes, Zalayeta, who substituted Trezeguet, serves Nedved with a backheel and the Czech’s shot goes past the post. He tries again one minute later but this time Dida saves. Meantime, Ancelotti substitutes Seedorf with Rui Costa, while Capello replaces the injured Appiah with Blasi. On 45’ minutes, it’s still Nedved in attack, and his drive, deflected in the box, is countered by Dida. In the extra time, Milan go for the last attempts to goal but Juventus is attentive and take the three golden points home.
MILAN-JUVENTUS 0-1
GOALS: 29'fh Trezeguet
MILAN: Dida; Cafù, Nesta, Stam, Maldini; Gattuso, Pirlo (1'sh Serginho),
Seedorf (22'sh Rui Costa), Kakà; Shevchenko, Tomasson (10'sh Inzaghi). Manager:
Ancelotti. Substitutes: Abbiati, Costacurta, Ambrosini, Crespo
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Pessotto,Thuram, Cannavaro Zambrotta; Camoranesi (14'sh
Birindelli), Emerson, Appiah (35'sh Blasi), Nedved; Del Piero, Trezeguet
(31'sh Zalayeta). Manager: Capello. Substitutes: Chimenti, Montero, Olivera,
Kapo
REFEREE: Collina
YELLOW CARDS: 28'fh Nesta, 39'fh Zambrotta, 25'sh Emerson
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