UCL : Juventus - Werder Br. 2-1

A fantastic start by Capello’s men was typified as early as the second minute when Nedved fed Trezeguet a fantastic ball only for the Frenchman’s shot to be parried behind. From the resulting corner, Cannavaro’s header looped over the bar. It wasn’t long before the tempo of the game began to slow down as both teams cancelled one-another out desperately searching for the opening goal. However, in the thirteenth minute Werder found the opening they had been looking for as Schulz fed Micoud who, advancing from the left, coolly slotted the ball passed Buffon (1-0). Juventus now had to score twice to secure their qualification. They began almost at once as Nedved rose to meet Camoranesi’s corner only to see his headed drift agonisingly wide (15’). In the 26th minute the Germans came close to an own goal but the ball rolled just passed the post. From Camoranesi’s corner Ibrahimovic connected well but Weise reacted brilliantly to deny the Swede. In the 40th minute Zambrotta hit a fantastic cross which Trezeguet tried to head but which drifted wide. In the 44th minute the Germans attacked again with Buffon denying Klasnic and forcing the ball behind for a corner. In the 45th minute Weise was once again called into action, denying first Nedved and then Emerson.

Juventus began the second-half with purpose and tested the excellent Weise within the first minute. First Nedved and then Trezeguet had their shots blocked brilliantly by the German ‘keeper. In the 8th minute Ibrahimovic saw his left footed effort sail over the bar. An unrelenting Capello then sent on Mutu and Del Piero in place of Camoranesi and Ibrahimovic as the team sought an equaliser. In the seventeenth minute Nedved went close, but was again denied by the Werder goalkeeper before being flagged for offside. Four minutes later however, Pavel found space to thread a delightful through ball to Trezeguet who, one-on-one with the keeper, slotted home to equalise for the home team (1-1).
Both teams went close in the final twenty minutes but it was Juventus who were to seize their chance. In the 88th minute Emerson capitalised on a fumble by the German ‘keeper and smashed the ball into the back of the net to the delight of the home crowd. The goal secured a 2-1 victory for the bianconeri and secured their place in the quarter-fianls.

 

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