After a first half played at a moderate pace, Juventus build up in the second half and, after hitting the bar twice in three minutes’ time, they achieve the deserved win thanks to a splendid goal by Del Piero.
The match kicks off and the Bianconeri try to worry Reggina’s defence with the trident attack Ibrahimovic-DelPiero-Zalayeta but the opponents’ guard is high. The Amaranto get dangerous with Borriello firstly when his header, after a cross by Tedesco, calls Buffon into action (9’), then with his conclusion from the left side of the penalty box (17’) and finally on 29’ minutes when his header, after Nakumara’s corner, ends beyond the goalline. Capello’s side goes for it with Blasi’s shot from the distance, finally wide of Patarini’s goal (27’). In the last few minutes, Zalayeta’s conclusion from the edge of the box is deflected for a corner by a defender.
During the break, Capello replaces Blasi with Tacchinardi. The second half too starts with a moderate pace, then it’s Capello’s side to take control of the game and in three minutes’ time they hit the bar twice. The first on 14’ minutes with Ibrahimovic’s header served by Camoranesi’s cross shot, the second on 17’ minutes when Del Piero fires his conclusion from outside the box, after an assist by Zalayeta, who two minutes earlier had engaged Pavarini with a header. The deserved lead is taken on 20’ minutes: Zebina charges down the right, the ball gets to Ibrahimovic who serves Del Piero with a backheel, and the latter with a left foot scores (1-0). Juventus lead and try to double the score. Meanwhile Borriello on 25’ minutes tries to get dangerous for Buffon but the Bianconeri’s goalkeeper clears easily. On 33’ and 35’ minutes, two free kicks played respectively by Ibrahimovic and Del Piero both miss the target. In the final minutes, the Bianconeri manage to keep their advantage.
JUVENTUS-REGGINA 1-0
GOALS: 20'sh Del Piero
JUVENTUS: Buffon, Zebina, Thuram, Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Camoranesi, Emerson, Blasi (1'sh Tacchinardi), Del Piero, Ibrahimovic, Zalayeta (33'sh Pessotto). Manager: Capello. Substitutes: Chimenti, Ferrara, Montero, Birindelli, Appiah.
REGGINA: Pavarini, Cannarsa (41'sh Boudianski), Franceschini, De Rosa, Zamboni, Mesto, Nakamura (36'sh Esteves), Mozart, Tedesco, Colucci, Borriello (30'sh Zeytulaev). Manager: Mazzarri. Substitutes: Soviero, Piccolo, Cosenza, Missiroli
REFEREE: Messina
YELLOW CARDS: 25'sh Zamboni
SPECTATORS: 21.198
GATE TAKINGS: 403.031