Juventus hit back to draw against Roma
Tuesday, 25 September 2007
ROME, Sept 24 (AFP): Roma retained the Italian league lead Sunday, but they were left with a hatful of regrets after Juventus hit back to draw 2-2 in the day's big match at the Olympic Stadium.
The Romans went into the clash with the prefect record of nine points from three games with seven goals scored and none conceded and it looked like they were on their way to another success as they led 2-1 at half-time.
But the home attack spurned numerous chances to seal the win before Vincenzo Iaquinta struck with three minutes to go, heading in a long throw-in from Giorgio Chiellini.
Earlier, French international striker David Trezeguet scored his 100th goal in Serie A for Juventus with a header at the near post to open the scoring after just 17 minutes. It was the first goal conceded by AS Roma this season.
The hosts hit back though to take the lead with two goals from talismanic captain Francesco Totti.
For the first after 30 minutes, he had his back to the goal but swivelled expertly to fire into the far corner.
Six minutes later, Totti struck again. Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon made a spectacular point-blank save from Alberto Aquilani, but there was nothing he could do to stop Totti slotting home on the follow-up.
Pavel Nedved won a penalty for Juventus five minutes into the second half, but Alessandro de Piero ballooned the spot-kick well over the bar.
After that it was all Roma and the hosts notably had a great chance to make it 3-1, but Simone Perrotta failed to convert a golden opportunity from close range.
Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri said he was delighted with the result and the single point for the draw.
"It's a great result for us," he said. "At the moment, Roma are pure magic. But we just had to play our own game.
"There were Totti's two goals and we missed our chances, but we remained competitive throughout and we deserved the draw."
The result means Roma stay top of Serie A with 10 points from four games, two ahead of champions Inter Milan who drew 2-2 away to Livorno after twice taking the lead, Atalanta who beat Lazio 2-1 at home and Fiorentina, 1-0 winners away to Catania.
In other games, Palermo won 1-0 at Cagliari and Torino and Siena shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in Turin.
In Saturday's games, AC Milan struggled again to a 1-1 home draw against Parma and are four points off the pace, while Udinese won 2-0 at home against Reggina.
The late game Sunday opposes Sampdoria and Genoa.
The Romans went into the clash with the prefect record of nine points from three games with seven goals scored and none conceded and it looked like they were on their way to another success as they led 2-1 at half-time.
But the home attack spurned numerous chances to seal the win before Vincenzo Iaquinta struck with three minutes to go, heading in a long throw-in from Giorgio Chiellini.
Earlier, French international striker David Trezeguet scored his 100th goal in Serie A for Juventus with a header at the near post to open the scoring after just 17 minutes. It was the first goal conceded by AS Roma this season.
The hosts hit back though to take the lead with two goals from talismanic captain Francesco Totti.
For the first after 30 minutes, he had his back to the goal but swivelled expertly to fire into the far corner.
Six minutes later, Totti struck again. Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon made a spectacular point-blank save from Alberto Aquilani, but there was nothing he could do to stop Totti slotting home on the follow-up.
Pavel Nedved won a penalty for Juventus five minutes into the second half, but Alessandro de Piero ballooned the spot-kick well over the bar.
After that it was all Roma and the hosts notably had a great chance to make it 3-1, but Simone Perrotta failed to convert a golden opportunity from close range.
Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri said he was delighted with the result and the single point for the draw.
"It's a great result for us," he said. "At the moment, Roma are pure magic. But we just had to play our own game.
"There were Totti's two goals and we missed our chances, but we remained competitive throughout and we deserved the draw."
The result means Roma stay top of Serie A with 10 points from four games, two ahead of champions Inter Milan who drew 2-2 away to Livorno after twice taking the lead, Atalanta who beat Lazio 2-1 at home and Fiorentina, 1-0 winners away to Catania.
In other games, Palermo won 1-0 at Cagliari and Torino and Siena shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in Turin.
In Saturday's games, AC Milan struggled again to a 1-1 home draw against Parma and are four points off the pace, while Udinese won 2-0 at home against Reggina.
The late game Sunday opposes Sampdoria and Genoa.