Capitano keeps the Dream alive!
Alessandro Del Piero & Simone Pepe on the score sheet as Juventus beat Lazio 2-1 at the glamorous Juventus Stadium in Torino. Previous day Title Rivals Milan beat Chievo via a Suley Muntari goal to secure the precious three points to keep the pressure on the Bianconeri as they were about to host a strong Lazio side who came in the game by defeating Napoli 3-1.
The game commenced with Juve pitting the tried & tested 4-3-3 with Pepe & Lichtsteiner returning to the starting XI against Lazio’s 4-3-2-1 with former Juve man Rocchi up front. Juve quickly started dominating possession thanks to the strong midfield general Andrea Pirlo. Juventus could have opened the scoring in the first 5 minutes via Fabio Quagliarella, but he was off target from a Chiellini cross.
In the next minutes, Juve completely dominated the game with the famous M-V-P controlling the mid-field. Lazio Goalkeeper Marchetti suffered a weird bounce on the face from a Vidal long range shot. Later Montenegrin forward Vucinic was blocked in the penalty box by defender Lionel Scaloni, with the latter appealing for a penalty.
Marchetti made an impressive save off Simone Pepe’s low shot on goal which was created by a fantastic build up play by Arturo Vidal but unfortunately Pepe failed to shoot it past the Lazio keeper. However, In the next minute, Pirlo fed Pepe with an fantastic ball over the Lazio defence. The rushing Pepe controlled it and scored a fabulous bicycle kick goal to give Juventus a well deserved lead in the 30th min.
From there onwards Lazio were completely pressured, the game could have been over by the half-time whistle if it wasn’t for Federico Marchetti. The former Cagliari man punched the ball over the goal from a thunderous half line effort from Arturo Vidal. Later Marchetti showed his superb abilities by stretching out a hand in order to save a Fabio Quagliarella close range shot.
Lichtsteiner fed Vucinic in the 18 yard box only to see his shot blocked by a Fighting Lazio Defence. Marchetti looked in high spirits as he again stretched out to save a long range effort off Vidal. Lazio’s hard work & never give up mentality finally paid off at the stroke of half-time, As Attacking Midfielder Stefano Mauri scored an unstoppable header in Buffon’s Goal from a cross from Argentine defender Scaloni.
Referee A. Damato? blew the whistle to start the second half as Juventus again dominated the possession, with Mirko Vucinic failing to slot the ball in the net from a great long through ball. As the game proceded, it turned quite ugly with loads of challenges and yellow cards.
After missed long range tries from Marchisio and Quagliarella, Stephen Lichtsteiner too failed to convert a sublime pass from Vidal. With the game leveled both the Managers brought in the changes to the teams. Marchetti again in high form throughout the match held confidently a Del Piero attempt. Lichtsteiner was again the recipient of a long ball which he passed it to venturing forward Juve left-back Giorgio Chiellini, only for the Italian failing to control it hence, giving Lazio defenders chance to clear the danger.
The glorious moment came in the 82 nd min for Juventus as Lazio playmaker Christian Ledesma handed the ball giving away a freekick to Juve in a promising position. With just eight minutes remaining substitute and Juve legend Alex Del Piero, making his 700th appearance, curled home a fantastic free kick for the delight of all Juventino’s around the World.
Juve never looked like losing the game and matters got worse for Lazio as substitute forward Libor Kozak was sent off due to a second yellow in the 90th minute. Kozak’s foul on Leonardo Bonucci resulted in the Juve center-back suffering a facial injury, taking him off the field for the rest of the minutes. With both teams technically down to 10 men (Kozak sent off & Bonucci injured) the Referee blew the final whistle for the celebrations of La Vecchia Signora.
With a win over Lazio, Juventus moved again on the top of the league table, one point ahead of Second Placed AC Milan. Juventus now travel to Cesena on Sunday whereas Milan hosts Genoa on Saturday. The race to Scudetto certainly is going to boil up until the final day.
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