Serie A - Juventus fight back to beat Udinese

Eurosport - Sun, 10 Feb 19:25:00 2008

Catania entertain league leaders Internazionale in a bid to leapfrog Torino in the middle of the table.

FOOTBALL Serie A 2007/08 Inter Ibrahimovic - 0

Claudio Ranieri's Juventus pulled off a brilliant comeback to win 2-1 after going behind to a resilient Udinese.

The home side took the lead on just five minutes when Andrea Dossena blasted home from a few yards out. After a tepid first half performance, Juve's reply came half-an-hour from full-time when Mauro Camoranesi put in a powerful header which gave keeper Samir Handanovic no chance.

Juve were then in the ascendancy and it came as little surprise when they took the lead on 76 minutes. Vincenzo Iaquinta, who came on for the ineffective David Trezeguet, had been on the pitch for less than a minute when he fired an excellent strike from just inside the area.

Udinese started the game far more brightly than the Bianconeri, and their forward play showed greater purpose and conviction. Their early lead was entirely justified, as Juve stuttered and stammered their way through the opening stages. Although it was Dossena who got the decisive strike, the hard work for Udinese's goal was down to the talismanic Fabio Quagliarella, who stormed down the left flank and shot towards the near-post, forcing Gianluigi Buffon into a smothering save which landed at Dossena's feet.

Whilst the visitors failed to find any rhythm or control after the goal, Udinese looked cool and calm, coming very close to doubling their lead on a number of occasions.

Antonio Floro Flores' firm header looked goal-bound until it was deflected for a corner, but the crucial miss of the match was Antonio Di Natale's. The striker found himself inside the area with just Buffon to beat, and it took a world-class save from the Italian stopper to parry Di Natale's effort wide. Udinese coach Pasquale Marino couldn't believe what he saw, and with good reason - his side wouldn't get a better chance to score.

Ranieri was as furious as his opposite number going into halftime, and his team-talk clearly had the desired effect as Juventus came out blazing after the interval. Pavel Nedved in particular led an energetic charge down the left flank, although his crosses were frequently cleared by a tough and spirited Udinese rear-guard.

Nedved came close to equalising with a deflected volley on 56 minutes, but Handanovic was always equal to it. Minutes later, team-mate Camoranesi found the back of the net with a tremendous, unstoppable header. This gave the Juve players an obvious boost and their winner was thoroughly deserved, although Udinese will feel rather hard done-by after putting in an industrious performance for much of the 90 minutes.

Iaquinta provoked scenes of delirium among the Juve players with his strike some fifteen minutes from time. The ball fell to him just outside the area, and after a neat first touch Iaquinta struck with precision and power, leaving Handanovic helpless in the Udinese goal.

The win gives Ranieri's team a crucial three points, taking them to within four points of second-placed Roma. Udinese remain in sixth, just three points behind Milan.

----

AC MILAN 1 SIENA 0

Teenage substitute Alberto Paloschi scored with his first touch to seal victory for a lacklustre Milan, now just two points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina.

Siena, who lost Simone Vergassola to a red card eight minutes from time, had their chances with Tomas Locatelli having a goal ruled out for offside after a quarter of an hour and Mario Frick striking the woodwork early in the second period.

- - - - -

CAGLIARI 1 PARMA 1

Jeda boosted the basement side with the opener on 34 minutes only for forward Reginaldo to quickly strike back for Parma.

- - - -

EMPOLI 1 LAZIO 0

Lazio's troubled season got worse with fellow strugglers Empoli triumphing after forward Ighli Vannucchi scored on seven minutes.

The visitors also had defender Aleksandar Kolarov dismissed at the end for a bad tackle.

- - - -

LIVORNO 1 GENOA 1

Francesco Tavano grabbed his 10th goal of the league campaign on 15 minutes but Genoa's forgotten striker Marco Di Vaio popped up with a rare goal to equalise with eight minutes left in the mid-table battle.

Genoa hauled themselves level despite Gleison Dos Santos Pinto being sent off for two yellow cards on 76 minutes.

- - - - -

SAMPDORIA 2 NAPOLI 0

The hosts left it late to continue their push for UEFA Cup football next season with Gennaro Delvecchio netting on 76 minutes and Daniele Franceschini wrapping up victory six minutes later.

- - - - -

TORINO 3 PALERMO 1

David Di Michele's second-half double helped Torino come from behind to beat Palermo and extend the Sicilians' dreadful recent run.

Brazilian striker Amauri put the visitors in front on 37 minutes when he raced half the length of the field to score but midfielder Aimo Diana, who moved from Palermo in the January transfer window, equalised in the second period before Di Michele's brace.

Amauri was sent off in the 75th minute for a second booking.

Eddie de Oliveira / Reuters / Eurosport