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Aston Villa v Juventus [ 4 - 3 Pens ] |
| Peace Cup - 02/08/09 Report: Football Italia | |
Penalties: Bannan (goal), Iaquinta (saved), Sidwell (miss), Trezeguet (goal), Lowry (goal), Amauri (goal), Young (goal), Felipe Melo (goal), Herd (saved), Del Piero (saved), Cuellar (goal), Legrottaglie (missed) |
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| Juventus wasted a hatful of chances in a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa, losing the Peace Cup Final in a sudden death shoot-out. Juve made six changes from the side that defeated Real Madrid 2-1, with Sebastian Giovinco in the trequartista role as Diego is still injured. In the opening 30 seconds, the Atomic Ant blasted a solo effort over the bar. Emile Heskey was sent off for a reaction foul in the 2-1 semi-final win over Porto and was therefore suspended, so Andreas Weimann started upfront with ex-Roma flop John Carew. Ashley Young tested Gigi Buffon from the edge of the box, but Juve were dominating the early stages and Felipe Melo whistled a daisy-cutter inches wide. David Trezeguet got a touch to a throw-in, but was unable to steer it into the net from eight yards, but Buffon smothered another Young strike at the second attempt. Vincenzo Iaquinta somehow failed to score on 28 minutes. Mauro Camoranesi knocked down a long Felipe Melo ball for a free header that the Italian incredibly nodded wide with only the goalkeeper to beat. Buffon got a hand to a Carew free kick from 25 metres, then had to make another tough save when Albrighton was left in acres of space down the right and unleashed a rocket that stung Gigi's palms. Juve were forced into a substitution, as Cristian Molinaro picked up an ankle problem and made way for Zdenek Grygera at left-back. In stoppages there were headers over for both Trezeguet and Carew, but Juve's French striker seemed out of sorts and barely touched the ball. The Bianconeri were struggling to break through Villa's slow tempo, so Cristiano Zanetti replaced Claudio Marchisio. Lichaj sprung the offside trap, but was penalised for a high foot as Buffon came out to challenge. Trezeguet was off balance to head Jonathan Zebina's cross well wide, then he horribly wasted from six yards as Zebina pulled it back from the byline. Trez shinned it over and really should have scored from there. Iaquinta also missed from a similar position, nodding over after Grygera ran on to Giovinco's smart back heel. The former Udinese striker again fired off target when off balance from Giovinco's assist. Villa risked scoring an own goal when Davies collided with goalkeeper Guzan as they both rushed to anticipate Iaquinta to a Zanetti chipped pass. On 71 minutes Juventus somehow failed to break the deadlock, as first Trezeguet and then Zanetti hit the desperate Guzan during the same move when there was the entire goal to aim at. Moments later Iaquinta wasted his third glorious opportunity, his first touch letting him down from six yards from another Zanetti assist. Giorgio Chiellini gave the ball away cheaply for substitute Bannan to drill wide from 20 metres, but the Bianconeri had the best chances now and Zebina burst into the box to bring a great save out of Guzan, kicking his boot off in the process. From the corner, Trez swung weakly straight at the 'keeper. It was not Iaquinta's night, as he beat the goalkeeper with a lob only to see it sail over an empty net. Iaquinta's cross hit Lowry's hand, but they were very close by and a penalty would've been extremely harsh. Alessandro Del Piero came off the bench for stoppages and extra time, as the Peace Cup will be decided late into the night. Amauri was introduced for Giovinco and Trezeguet went close again, this time with an overhead kick comfortably gathered. Steve Sidwell headed over, but the tie had to go to penalties, as bizarrely the referee blew the whistle with four minutes left. Iaquinta completed a nightmare performance with a weak spot-kick, but Sidwell ballooned over to level the scores. Youngster Herd's final penalty was parried by Buffon, so Del Piero had the responsibility of completing the victory, but tried to trick Guzan by hitting it straight down the middle. It went to sudden death and Cuellar scored while Nicola Legrottaglie blasted over. Aston Villa win the Peace Cup on penalties. |
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| Juventus: Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro (Grygera 39); Camoranesi (Del Piero 90), Melo, Marchisio (Zanetti 56); Giovinco (Amauri 91); Iaquinta, Trezeguet Aston Villa: Guzan; Lichaj, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey (Lowry 74); Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Young, Weimann (Bannan 74), Carew (Herd 91) Ref: Blom |
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| Match Highlights | |
