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Result
Juventus beat Real Madrid to reach Peace Cup final
Aug 1st
The Bianconeri are through to the Peace Cup showpiece event after edging past their great European rivals.
The two giants of the game went head to head in the second semi-final of the Peace Cup and as expected, it was a clash Real Madrid dominated and created plenty of chances while Juventus happily played on the break.
It took only 30 seconds for the Bianconeri to make their intentions clear when Mauro Camoranesi clattered hard into the back of Royston Drenthe and the Dutchman was left with an instant headache.
Two minutes later, Madrid repaid the favor when Miguel Torres barged down Camoranesi just outside the box towards the left but from the freekick, Juve surged ahead. Alessandro Del Piero curled in his effort straight at goal and who else but Fabio Cannavaro ghosted in behind the defense and thumped a header past a wrong-footed Jerzy Dudek.
Madrid responded immediately as they sauntered forward with intent down both flanks but it was the Italians who came close to doubling their advantage on ten minutes. Giovinco slipped in a lovely through ball to the left for Amauri, who pulled his shot just wide at the far post. And mere seconds later, Del Piero was left all alone inside the box to meet Hasan Salihamidzic’s cross but he just didn’t get enough purchase on his free header to trouble Dudek.
Madrid’s best chance came in the 15th minute when Guti charged his way past two defenders through the middle into the box but he failed to finish one-on-one with Buffon when his side-footed shot was kicked away by the Italian international custodian.
Los Blancos had another opening on 20 minutes when Granero’s disguised through ball found Raul, who managed to turn Cannavaro but the captain’s dinked shot just sailed over the bar.
Three minutes laters, Cristiano Ronaldo was presented with a freekick opportunity from 25 yards out on the right channel but his effort flew high and wide. Straight to the other end, Amauri pounced on a poor back pass from Pepe, rounded Dudek but his shot was cleared on the line by Christoph Metzelder.
Five minutes before the break, the Spanish giants drew level from the spot. Raul ran onto CR9’s through ball but he was hacked down by Chiellini inside the box. Ronaldo stepped up an coolly chipped it straight down the middle after catching a glimpse of Buffon slanting to his left.
Madrid weren’t done as they continued pushing forward before the interval whistle went but the Serie A mammoths managed to stem the tide.
There were two changes made at the break. Ciro Ferrara sent in Nicola Legrottaglie for Cannavaro, who may have tweaked a muscle early in the first period, while the fourth official entered the game to take over from the match referee.
Four minutes into the restart, Juventus restored their advantage. First, Givoinco danced and spun past Metzelder inside the box before clip a superb cross to Camoranesi, who headed down and Dudek was forced to tip it over the bar at full stretch.
And it was from the resulting corner that the Old Lady took the lead. Del Piero swung his delivery to the near post and an unchallenged Salihamidzic rose high to nod it into the top far corner. It was the fifth goal Madrid conceded in the tournament and the fifth from a set-piece.
Moments later, Raul nearly equalized when Ronaldo’s shot was parried away by Buffon and Raul’s rebound cannoned off the wrong side of the post.
Buffon then had to make a superb reflex save when Guti whipped in a freekick from the right flank and Metzelder just got the slightest of touches at the near post but ‘Gigi’ was alert to the threat to flap it away.
The ‘Men in White’ continued to persist in attack and Raul and Benzema had a number of decent look-ins, but neither really troubled the Juve shot-stopper. And as the flurry of substitutions came flooding in, the clear-cut chances started to dry up.
It wasn’t until the 80th minute that the next best opening arrived. Tiago ran onto a squared ball and curled in a low shot on the edge of the area, only to see it ping off the bottom of the right post.
Six minutes later, Camoranesi checked past two defenders but his shot right on the edge of the box ricocheted off Pepe, allowing Dudek to gather comfortably. A minute into injury time, the Portuguese defender almost levelled for Madrid when he headed Granero’s freekick over the bar from three yards out, although he did have his back to goal.
The Merengues had one final chance three minutes into stoppages when Buffon spilled a cross and Ronaldo tussled with two defenders before the goalkeeper was able to wrestle the ball away and clutch on to it safely.
And that was precisely how Juventus held on to march into the final of the 2009 Peace Cup to set-up a date with Aston Villa on Sunday.
Juventus rise to see off Seongnam Ilhwa
Jul 29th
The Bianconeri are through to Friday’s semi-final following a convincing display against Seongnam.
Juventus 3-0 SeongnamGoals from Iaquinta, Diego and Legrottaglie saw the Old Lady cruise past a Seongnam side who were never in the race in the Estadio Chapin in Jerez. Juve are through to the semi-final where they may face the Galacticos of Real Madrid.
First Half
Juventus started brightly knowing that a draw would take them through to a possible semi-final clash with Real Madrid. It was scrappy early on as Seongnam closed the spaces well. Diego made his debut after his summer move from Werder Bremen.
The first real chance fell to David Trezeguet. Vincenzo Iaquinta crossed in from the far side for the Frenchman who rose above the defence to head the ball towards goal. However, it was a weak effort and comfortable for Sung Jong Ryun. Minutes later it was Iaquinta who should have done better from close range. Mauro Camoranesi fed the Italian. He beat Hwan Kim for pace, but he failed to leave his mark as he fired wide with his left foot.
The Koreans showed their fitness compared to the Italian side. Molina fed Dong Won Han with a nice through pass, but Nicola Legrottaglie spared Jonathan Zebina blushes with a nice clearance. It was an open game as both teams attacked each other.
Iaquinta was once again at the centre of the action. Diego found Camoranesi with a delightful ball on the right. The Italian crossed in for Iaquinta but he failed to make contact with his head. Dong Won gave Gianluigi Buffon a scare moments later. Zebina who didn’t look confident, allowed his opponent to slip through, but the Italian goalkeeper was quick off his line to smother the danger.
Minutes later Zebina fouled Molina on the left and a free kick was awarded on the edge of the box. However, Molina’s effort was well cleared by Chiellini. The Chunma continued to attack and Cho should have given them the lead after 30 minutes, but he failed to connect to Kim’s low cross from the right. Molina was the Korean side’s dangerman, but his finishing was poor as he dragged his left-foot effort wide of Buffon’s goal.
Down the other end Juve were awarded a free kick after Sasa fouled Iaquinta on the edge of the box. Diego stepped up to take it, but his curling effort deflected off the wall. At the back the Old Lady was well organised. Seongnam found it hard to breach Ciro Ferrara’s side and the didn’t create any chance worthy of mention.
Juventus finally took the lead following a comedy of errors from Jung in goal. Diego passed out wide to Camoranesi who crossed in with a first time effort. The Seongnam keeper came but never caught the ball and it deflected into the net via Iaquinta’s head. It was a dreadful mistake from the Koreans as Jung lived his nightmare moment.
The Italian side were boosted by the goal and it showed as they continued to batter to Koreans’ goal. Cristiano Zanetti should have done better when he was fed by Trezeguet. The Italian midfielder controlled well, but he blasted his right-foot effort over the crossbar.
Second Half
Juve got the second half underway and came close through Zebina. The defender made a good run down the right as he latched on to a pass from Diego, but he fizzed his shot wide of the mark. Felipe Melo came on for Zanetti as the Brazilian made his debut. The Brazilian showed his skills as he slowed the rhythm of the game down and linked up well with Diego. The number 28 played the ball out to Camoranesi on the right. He crossed well, but Iaquinta was late and Jung caught well.
Iaquinta continued to move well inside the box and he spotted Trezeguet’s clever run in behind Ognenovski. However, the Frenchman incredibly missed from point-blank range as he fired high. It was easier to score than to miss.
Diego made it 2-0 to the Italians with an outstanding strike. He dribbled his way into the box before unleashing a powerful drive into the bottom right corner, leaving Jung with no chance. Juve were cruising by this stage. Sebastian Giovinco came on for Diego and he made an instant impact. ‘La Formica Atomica’ cut into the box following a short corner and he picked out Legrottaglie who headed home to seal the win.
The Korean side didn’t give up though and Hack Yong Jang should have scored with his head, but the ball flew over the crossbar. The Bianconeri held on to make it through to the semi-final in style.
Teams
Juventus (4-3-1-2): Buffon (Chimenti); Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Salihamidzic; Camoranesi, Zanetti (Melo), Tiago; Diego (Giovino); Trezeguet, Iaquinta.
Seongnam (4-4-2): Sung Ryong Jung; Sung Hwan Kim, Ognenovski Byung Kuk Cho, Hack Yong Jang; Dong Won, Han, Ho Lee, Jung, Woo Kim, Ban; Dong Geong, Cho, Radonzic.
Goals: Iaquinta (J), Diego (J), Legrottaglie (J).
Defeat in Semifinal
Jun 27th
A long-range effort from defender Andreas Beck saw off Italy as Germany set up a repeat of their Group B meeting with England in the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final.
Rivals meet again
Beck struck three minutes into the second-half and the goal proved enough to settle the semi-final despite a late flurry of Italy chances. Germany return to the final for the first time since losing 5-4 to England over two legs in the 1982 showpiece and will meet their old rivals for the second time in the tournament after drawing 1-1 in their final group match. The only sour note for Germany is that Ashkan Dejagah will be suspended for the Malmo showpiece after being booked here.
Quick pace
Fans in Helsingborg had watched the drama in the other semi-final in Gothenburg unfold on giant screens, and if the atmosphere fell flat following Sweden’s elimination by England, it soon picked up as Germany and Italy tore at each other from the outset. Benedikt Höwedes gave early warning of what was to come as he headed over then Dennis Aogo’s low shot was tipped away by Andrea Consigli.
Neuer saves
At the other end Sebastian Giovinco was soon making a nuisance of himself and Manuel Neuer somehow punched away his swerving shot and from the corner Neuer tipped Marco Motta’s thumping header on to the bar. The Azzurrini captain soon went close again, his header saved on the line by Neuer before Robert Aquafresca’s shot deflected to safety off the bar. Italy were the more penetrative and Mario Balotelli, back from suspension, sent a searing drive just over midway through the first half.
Livewire Giovinco
Both sides had been forced into changes in central midfield, with Italy coach Pierluigi Casiraghi bringing in Piermario Morosini and Antonio Candreva for the suspended Claudio Marchisio and injured Paolo De Ceglie. With Sami Khedira injured, Horst Hrubesch paired Gonzalo Castro with Aogo, but they were struggling to contain Giovinco’s quickness of thought and feet. The Juventus player sent Acquafresca clear down the right and he squared for Antonio Candreva who stumbled with a clear sight of goal. On 39 minutes Giovinco picked out Luca Cigarini whose shot was bundled away by Neuer.
Beck strikes
The half-time whistle could not come too soon for Germany, but they assumed command soon after the restart. There seemed little immediate danger as Beck pushed down the right, but his swerving low drive from 30 metres eluded Consigli and curled in at the far post. The goal knocked Italy off their stride and Germany began to assume control in midfield, restricting the Azzurrini to long shots. Not until 17 minutes from time did Italy really threaten, substitute Änis Ben-Hatira clearing Marco Andreolli’s header off the line. Four minutes later Neuer dived to his right to punch away Balotelli’s free-kick as the chances kept coming, Andreolli sending a header just wide. Germany, though, held on and go into the final having conceded just once in four matches.
Great come back send Italy through
Jun 24th
Two goals from Robert Acquafresca secured Italy’s place in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship semi-finals against Germany, but despite dominating possession they were made to wait before seeing off a dogged Belarus 2-1 in Helsingborg.
Acquafresca double
Belarus had stunned the five-time champions by taking the lead through Sergei Kislyak in the 45th minute only for the Azzurrini to hit back immediately through Acquafresca’s penalty with the final kick of the first half. With the score at 1-1 and Sweden beating Serbia in the night’s other match, Belarus could still have advanced with victory and it was not until the 75th minute that Acquafresca finally settled Azzurrini nerves with his second of the game to ensure they finished top of Group A. Things did not all go Italy’s way, though. Claudio Marchisio was booked and will miss Friday’s semi-final here through suspension while Paolo de Ceglie is a doubt after being taken off in the first half with an ankle injury.
Abate in
Italy made one change from the side that had beaten Sweden, with Ignazio Abate replacing the suspended Mario Balotelli in attack. The Torino FC player was quickly into the action, crossing in the second minute to Acquafresca who fired into the side-netting. Five minutes later Abate’s shot skimmed wide as Italy enjoyed the early running. Belarus threatened in the 12th minute when Leonid Kovel broke into the area, but Marco Motta clipped the ball off his toes as he ran on goal. Belarus were beginning to get a foothold and the momentum shifted against Italy on 14 minutes when De Ceglie was replaced by Daniele Dessena after injuring his left knee. Sergei Krivets then shot over before Salvatore Bocchetti had to be alert to clear from the midfielder after Dmitri Komarovski’s curling pass had picked him out in the area.
Great chances
Belarus, though, were fortunate not to fall behind on 29 minutes in a breathless flurry of chances at the other end. First Mikhail Afanasiev cleared off the line from Domenico Criscito then, after Pavel Chesnovski had tipped over Abate’s shot, Afansiev hacked Bocchetti’s goalbound header off the line from the resulting corner. Belarus were living dangerously and Criscito should have directed a free header on goal four minutes before the break. Still wondering how they had failed to score, Italy fell behind on 45 minutes when Kislyak swept in Igor Shitov’s cross. Belarus players ran to the bench to celebrate but their joy was short-lived. With the added time almost up, Afanasiev handled Abate’s cross in the box and Acquafresca fired in from the spot.
Nerves
Acquafresca could have put Italy ahead three minutes after the interval only to slice his shot wide when through on goal and they came close once more on 55 minutes when Bocchetti’s header thudded back off the bar. Another Italy chance went begging on 64 minutes when Sebastian Giovinco’s low shot was blocked by Chesnovski and with every opportunity that went to waste, Belarus’s hopes increased at the same rate as nerves on the Italy bench. With Sweden leading in the section’s other match, an unanswered goal now would have taken Belarus through at Italy’s expense and twice they went close on 73 minutes, first Andrea Consigli punching over Kovel’s powerful free-kick then Maksim Bordachov heading just over. Not until the 75th minute could Italy finally begin to breathe easily. Giovinco played in Antonio Candreva who squared the ball for Acquafresca to tap in unmarked. Giovinco then hit the bar three minutes later, but Italy had already done enough.
Ten-man Italy spoil Sweden’s party
Jun 19th
Italy took a decisive step towards a semi-final place with a 2-1 win against Sweden in Group A, despite playing nearly an hour with ten men following Mario Balotelli’s first-half dismissal.
Acquafresca scores
The FC Internazionale Milano striker had opened the scoring midway through the half with a terrific curling shot, but seven minutes before the break he kicked out at Pontus Wernbloom and was shown a straight red card. Sweden pressed after the break, but were unable to make their man-advantage tell, falling further behind on 53 minutes when Robert Acquafresca headed in. Though Ola Toivonen struck late on it was not enough.
Sweden press
The home fans were out in strength on the Midsummer national holiday and their team looked to pick up from where they left off after their 5-1 win against Belarus. They were almost gifted a dream start when Salvatore Bocchetti’s mis-hit back pass almost let Marcus Berg – the hat-trick here against Belarus – through on goal. Italy goalkeeper Andrea Consigli was quickly off his line to hassle the striker into a wayward pass of his own. Sweden, though, had seized the initiative and moments later Mikael Lustig narrowly headed over. Consigli had to be alert again on 12 minutes to hold Rasmus Elm’s low deflected free-kick at his right post.
Balotelli scores
Italy coach Pierluigi Casiraghi had kept faith with this front three of Acquafresca, Sebastian Giovinco and Balotelli, and the trio combined well on 18 minutes. Balotelli’s first-time ball picked out Giovinco, whose pass was fractionally too long for Acquafresca. The warning signs were there and five minutes later Italy were ahead. The increasingly influential Giovinco picked out Balotelli on the left with a chipped pass and the striker cut inside before sending a wonderful curling shot beyond Johan Dahlin.
Red card
Giovinco was running the game and showed his confidence with an audacious chipped shot from near the centre circle that had Dahlin back-peddling before gratefully seeing the ball land on the roof of the net. Italy’s ascendancy, however, was short-lived. An increasingly bad tempered game had already seen three Swedish players booked when, seven minutes before half-time, goalscorer Balotelli kicked out at the prone Pontus Wernbloom and was dismissed.
Acquafresca scores
Sweden had fallen behind in their three previous matches and recovered to win and they scented a chance again here, Emir Bajrami firing over before the break. Two minutes after the restart Berg also came close when he lashed a shot across the face of goal. It was Italy, though, who struck next. Giovinco won a free-kick near the corner flag and took it himself, whipping a ball into the near post where Acquafresca, the Azzurrini’s top scorer in qualifying, gleefully headed into the far corner.
Toivonen consolation
Sweden rallied and twice Toivonen dragged wide when well placed while Consigli got down well to keep out Wernbloom’s low strike. Sweden introduced Labinot Harbuzi and Martin Olsson midway through the half and the latter twice came close before the hosts’ pressure finally told two minutes from time as Toivonen lashed in. It came too late to save the game, however, and Italy will face Belarus on Tuesday confident of claiming a place in the last four while Sweden have it all to do against Serbia.
Line Ups
Sweden: Dahlin; Lustig, Bjasmyr, Bengtsson, Johansson; Elm, Svensson (Harbuzi 65′), Wernbloom; Bajrami (Olsson 65′), Toivonen, Berg
Italy: Consigli; Motta, Andreolli, Bochetti, Criscito; Cigarini, De Ceglie, Marchisio (Dessena 86′); Giovinco (Abate 61′), Balotelli, Acquafresca (Rannochia)
Goals
Sweden Toivonen 88′
Italy: Balotelli 23′, Acquafresca 52′
