Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Juventus 2 - 2 Chelsea (2-3 agg)
A 2-2 draw in Turin saw 10-man Juventus knocked out by Chelsea after losing Pavel Nedved to injury and Giorgio Chiellini harshly sent off.
The Bianconeri had to overturn a 1-0 first leg defeat, but an injury crisis ruled out Momo Sissoko, Cristiano Zanetti, Mauro Camoranesi, Paolo De Ceglie and Nicola Legrottaglie. Claudio Ranieri unleashed a trident attack, although Vincenzo Iaquinta could come back for a 4-4-2 when needed, with David Trezeguet preferred to Amauri. Chelsea handed Michael Essien his first start since August and went for a more defensive formation.
The Juve fans unfurled a huge banner that read 'Yes we can' before kick-off. There was bad news immediately, as Pavel Nedved got a knock to the head from Essien's knee and then hurt his ribs, so after 13 minutes he had to make way for Hasan Salihamidzic. The disappointment was evident, as the Czech - who'll retire this summer - was in tears.
Juve took the initiative and the lead after 19 minutes. It was the first real chance of the match, as Iaquinta brilliantly exchanged flicked passes with Trezeguet outside the box and thumped an angled drive over Petr Cech. It was 1-0 on the night, but more importantly 1-1 on aggregate.
Moments later Del Piero stung Cech's palms with a thunderbolt from distance. Cech flapped at a Cristian Molinaro cross and Trezeguet's effort was charged down from nine yards.
The Chelsea goalkeeper had to rush out and smother from Iaquinta at the second attempt with help from John Terry.
The tempo dropped and it turned into a midfield battle that was very crowded in the centre of the park. The Blues had more of the ball than in the early stages, but Michael Ballack's glancing header was well wide.
The referee awarded a free kick just outside the box for a Tiago Mendes handling offence, but replays show he clearly stopped it with his chest. It nearly proved costly, as Gianluigi Buffon tipped Drogba's free kick on to the post and scrambled it into his arms. Some Chelsea players thought it had crossed the line and video evidence isn't conclusive.
It was a moot point, as in first half stoppages a Frank Lampard effort from distance hit Tiago and looped up for Buffon to palm on to the crossbar, but he could do nothing as Essien pounced on the loose ball.
That goal right on the stroke of half-time knocked the wind out of Juve's sails and quietened the crowd, too, as they now needed two goals to qualify. Buffon punched away a Lampard free kick and Giorgio Chiellini was booked for a tackle on Ballack. Iaquinta just failed to get on the end of a cross and Del Piero's header was straight at Cech.
Confidence was visibly low and Ranieri introduced Sebastian Giovinco for goalscorer Iaquinta in a 4-4-2. There was controversy on 62 minutes, as Cech tried to stop the ball going out for a corner and Del Piero came flying in, so the goalkeeper handled outside the box and was booked rather than red carded. Del Piero's free kick only reached Giovinco to volley well over.
A well-worked team move on 65 minutes ended with Trezeguet nodding Del Piero's cross and Cech flew to fingertip it out from under the bar.
Giovinco tried one too many passes with Del Piero and a good move collapsed on the edge of the box. Cech was fortunate to keep hold of the ball after a free kick dipped mercilessly and Chiellini only grazed it.
Drogba was booked for dragging back Giovinco, but just as Juve were getting back into their stride, Chiellini received a very harsh second yellow card for his challenge on Drogba.
Del Piero's free kick hit an arm in the defensive wall and a penalty was awarded for Juliano Belletti's handling offence, but bizarrely there was no yellow card. The tension got to Olof Mellberg, who had to be dragged away as he got into an argument with the Chelsea players. Del Piero stepped up and rolled it coolly to send Cech the wrong way.
Juventus had 15 minutes to find another goal and qualify, or go out on the away goals rule. Giovinco dribbled past two and his shot was deflected out for a corner, but Ballack just failed to connect with Anelka's cross when totally unmarked on the counter.
Amauri replaced Trezeguet, who was visibly not happy with the decision, but Drogba put the result beyond doubt. He was at full stretch to get his foot to a low Belletti cross from the right.
In stoppages Buffon parried a Ballack snapshot and held his ground to keep out Belletti from point-blank range, but the game was already over and with it Juve's Champions League campaign.
Juventus: Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro; Tiago, Marchisio, Nedved (Salihamidzic 13); Iaquinta (Giovinco 60), Del Piero, Trezeguet (Amauri 78)
Chelsea: Cech; Bosingwa, Terry, Alex (Ricardo Carvalho 89), A Cole; Mikel; Ballack, Essien (Belletti 66), Lampard; Drogba, Anelka
Ref: Mallenco (Spa)
Goals: Iaquinta 19 (J), Essien 45 (C), Del Piero pen 74 (J), Drogba 83 (C)
Sent off: Chiellini 70 (J)
Football Italia
PICTURES
1 comments:
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