It all went wrong at the Meazza tonight.
The Bianconeri played fairly well but lost 4-1. The Youth team players did very well though, Pasquato even scored. Chiellini sprained his knee. Birra Moretti Trophy on Thursday. Four days after the poker of goals that sunk Artmedia Bratislava and practically opened the doors of the major European tournament, Juventus had an unlucky night at the Mezza.
In the 18th edition of the Luigi Berlusconi Trophy, they lost against the Rossoneri (4-1), but worst of all one of the team's stalwarts – Giorgio Chiellini – had to be taken out on a stretcher due to a knee sprain; only Monday afternoon will it be known how serious this injury is. The defeat was too heavy and undeserved. The Rossoneri converted every chance they had; they scored twice in the first half with Jankulovski and Ambrosini and two more times in the second half, with Inzaghi and again Ambrosini. In between the last two goals, Pasquato scored for Juve.
With the score at 0-0, Amauri had a goal disallowed. Legrottaglie hit the post near the end of the first half and there was a penalty appeal from Ekdal. Juve will be playing again already on Thursday, against AC Milan again, and Napoli, at the Birra Moretti Trophy. For this second pre-season game against AC Milan, Ranieri had to do without some important players who'd done so well only four days ago against Artmedia: Camoranesi, Trezeguet and Iaquinta.
At the last minute, it was also decided to give Buffon a rest. So the team started with: Chimenti in goal, Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini and Molinaro in defence, Tiago, Sissoko, Poulsen and Nedved in midfield, and Del Piero and Iaquinta up front. Despite having expended a lot of energy (both physically and mentally) in the qualifier, the Bianconeri started off strongly. There was immediately a Grygera run, set up by Del Piero, and also an Amauri goal, incorrectly disallowed for a non-existent offside. Then Ranieri's team had 15 nightmare minutes between the 20th and the 35th minute. AC Milan scored twice with Jankulovski and Ambrosini, but even worse, Chiellini suffered an injury and had to leave the pitch on a stretcher with a sprained knee; how serious the injury is will be established in the next few hours.
Legrottaglie came on and almost scored again like on Wednesday, but his header hit the post this time. Before the break, former Juve keeper Abbiati saved on a great effort by Del Piero. There were immediately line-up changes in the second half. Manninger replaced Chimenti and Ekdal Nedved among the Bianconeri.
Dida and Inzaghi came on for AC Milan. And Superpippo confirmed his state of grace in this event, first making it 3-0 after 52 minutes and immediately after forcing a save out of Manninger. As time went by, Ranieri gave space to the younger players. Del Piero, Tiago and Sissoko came off, Rossi, Esposito and Pasquato replacing them. The Veneto-born striker was particularly on the ball and after 70 minutes got the satisfaction of scoring in this ground, beating Dida with a lovely left-footer on the near post.
The goal galvanized Juventus and they would have had the chance to make it 3-2, but Rizzoli didn't give a clear penalty for a Bonera foul on Ekdal, unjustly booking the Swede for simulating. Pasquato again had a chance in the 75h, but a desperate clearance by Oddo saved the hosts. AC Milan ironically scored instead, with Ambrosini again, on the counter-attack. It ended with a 4-1 score that is far too harsh on Juve from what we saw on the pitch tonight.
But the four goals that really count are those scored Wednesday against Artmedia.
Juventus already have the chance to take revenge against AC Milan on Thursday at the Birra Moretti Trophy.
Sauce: Juventus.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment