Roma vs. Juventus 1-4
A determined Juventus in the first half, and inexorable in the second, wins over Roma at the Olimpico scoring 4 goals. Nedved finds the goal at the end of the first half, Capello’s side are rampant in the second half with Ibrahimovic’s goal and two scored by Trezeguet.
Juventus start in attack right away with Ibrahimovic being the first to attempt on goal, after 3 minutes, but his right-footed drive is too high. Then it’s Montella’s turn to try to get dangerous but Thuram first and Abbiati later counter the Giallorosso striker’s initiatives. On 8’ minutes, Emerson serves for Trezeguet who causes Doni to clear with his feet. It’s Juve again on 11’ minutes with Camoranesi feeding Ibrahimovic, whose turn on the shot ends narrowly high over the crossbar. Abbiati makes three great saves: on 13’ minutes, when he deflects Taddei’s shot out for a corner, on 17’ minutes when he hinders De Rossi who, feeded by Totti’s free-kick, drives a header out and then on 32’ minutes when he saves Montella’s attempt on goal. After 23 minutes Trezeguet looks for the goal but his header, following Chiellini’s cross shot, ends out. In the last fifteen minutes of the first half, Juventus control the game and create several good occasions in attack and can finally take the lead on 46’ minutes: Camoranesi crosses for Nedved from the right, the latter jump for a header and beats Doni. The first forty-five minutes ends with the Bianconeri leading 1-0.
Capello’s side, determined in the first half, become inexorable in the second. After 5 minutes, Nedved tries again to score, Doni saves but cannot keep the ball which ends out for a corner. Following the corner, Doni throws out, Emerson lobs the ball but the goalkeeper saves. The 2-0 goal is Ibrahimovic’s masterpiece. The Swede, served by Emerson in the midfield, disengages himself from Kuffour, moves forward and at the right time, with an unstoppable right-footed shot, beats Doni. There is only Juventus on the playground. Two minutes later Trezeguet’s show starts: on 13’ minutes, following Zambrotta’s cross from the right, the Frenchman nods it in (3-0). On 16’ mintues, Ibrahimovic crosses to the centre, the ball touches Thuram and finally gets to Trezegoal who shoots it in from a very short range (4-0). On 20’ minutes, Capello’s side remain in 10 when Thuram is sent off as Paparesta reckons he’s brought Montella down: the resulting penalty is converted by Totti, who makes no mistake (4-1). Capello sacrifices Trezeguet and replaces him with Kovac: Juventus, despite being fewer in number, control the game with great care. In fact, from this time on Roma will only get dangerous on 23’ minutes with Totti’s left-footed shot which ends out.
ROMA vs JUVENTUS 1-4
GOALS: 46'fh Nedved, 11'sh Ibrahimovic, 13'sh and 16' sh Trezeguet, 20'sh Totti
(pen.)
ROMA: Doni; Panucci, Kuffour, Mexes, Cufrè (34'sh Alvarez); Perrotta,
Dacourt (30'sh Tommasi), De Rossi (15'sh Nonda); Taddei, Totti; Montella.
Coach: Spalletti. Substitutes: Curci, Bovo, Karja, Aquilani.
JUVENTUS: Abbiati; Zambrotta, Thuram, Cannavaro, Chiellini; Camoranesi,
Emerson, Vieira, Nedved (46'sh Mutu); Ibrahimovic (35'sh Del Piero),
Trezeguet (18'sh Kovac). Coach:Capello. Substitutes: Chimenti, Pessotto,
Blasi, Giannichedda.
REFEREE: Paparesta
YELLOW CARDS: 38'fh Nedved, 39'fh Vieira, 3'sh Cannavaro, 30'sh Dacourt, 37'sh
Mexes, 44'sh Perrotta
SENT-OFF: 17'sh Thuram