27th Matchday: Juve vs. Lecce 3-1
An important win for the Bianconeri over Lecce at the Delle Alpi. Capello’s side, after conceding a goal after 10 minutes, turns the result over with goals from Emerson and Kovac and dominates the playground until the last minute and earns a 3-1 result thanks to a penalty converted by Del Piero in the final minutes.
Capello’s side tries to worry Lecce in the first minutes of the match with headers from Del Piero first, on Vieira’s cross pass, and then from Emerson, following Nedved’s corner shot. However, it’s Lecce who take the lead after 10 minutes: Camisa cross passes to Del Vecchio who nods it in from a two-step range (0-1). Juventus, who have meanwhile replaced the injured Blasi with Pessotto as right wing defender, earn the draw on 17’ minutes. The action starts from Mutu’s shot on goal deflected out for a corner by the goalkeeper. On the corner shot, Mutu receives the ball and aims at goal again, Emerson, well positioned in the penalty area, heels it in (1-1). The two authors of the draw try to repeat themselves after 21 minutes: a free kick from the Romanian and a header from the Brazilian, but the attempt is saved. During this action, El Puma is hit on his forehead and he has to play with a bandage around it. After 28 minutes into the first half, Lecce attack with Camorani but his shot from the edge of the box does not actually threat Buffon. After 30 minutes, Juventus are in full possession of the playground. They start with Mutu’s cross which passes across goal and ends out (30’). On 35’ minutes, Ibrahimovic, on Vieira’s assist, is face to face with the goalkeeper but his shot on goal ends out. On 38’ minutes, a good one-two Del Piero-Ibrahimovic and then a right-footed shot from the Swede is deflected out for a corner by Saidi. On 38’ minutes, a great shot from Nedved is cleared by the goalkeeper, the ball gets to Del Piero who hits the crossbar with a header, but the referee signals the Captain’s offside. The efforts made by Capello’s side are rewarded on 43’ minutes: on Mutu’s free kick, Kovac’s header finds the winning deflection and give the Bianconeri the lead (2-1). The Croatian defender, who has come back recently after a long break due to an injury, celebrates with his teammates his first goal with the Juventus jersey.
The second half is virtually a one-team show. After 4 minutes, Ibrahimovic passes to Nedved, and the latter’s volley shot is saved by the goalkeeper. Two minutes later, Lecce remain in 10 men after Camorani is sent off for double booking. On 9’ minutes, after Del Piero’s free kick, the ball gets to Ibrahimovic, who’s in a good position, but Benussi counters. On 14’ minutes, Balzaretti feeds Ibrahimovic who heads the ball to Nedved but the Czech’s shot is too wide. On 15’ minutes, a fine finish from Ibrahimovic ends high over the bar. The only attack from Lecce takes place on 21’ minutes with Babù’s left-footed drive, pushed by Buffon over the crossbar. On 24’ minutes, following Del Piero’s free kick, Nedved tries to head the ball in but Benussi saves. On 25’ minutes, Nedved puts the ball in from the left, Mutu tries a shot on the run but it ends out. Three minutes later, on Mutu’s corner, Kovac’s header ends high over the crossbar. On 29’ minutes a good pass between Ibrahimovic and Del Piero but the Captain’s finish is out. On 36’ minutes, Ibrahimovic, surrounded by four opponents, aims at goal but the ball is deflected out for a corner by a defender. The final result is enriched by a penalty converted by Del Piero on 44’ minutes, assigned by the referee after Nedved’s being brought down in the penalty area (3-1).
