Reggina put one over on a stuttering Old Lady to grab a bit of relegation relief.  Some brilliant touches and some shoddy play in an odd game that ended in fireworks. 

 

The Granillo in Febuary, both teams well represented and neither bolshily optimistic nor dreadfully pessimistic.  Juventus wanted to leapfrog Roma and Reggina needed to mount another last ditch fightback from the gaping maw of Serie B. 

 

Amaranto manager Ulivieri feared for his job as he picks the team.  Campagnolo keeps goal behind a back three of Lanzario, Valdez and Aronica.  Defender Cirillo is put in midfield to help shore things up alongside Cascione, Barretto and Vigiani; wide on the left to provide an attacking option is Modesto.  Brienza operates forward and mostly right with Vigiani sitting between attack and midfield, Amoruso is the target man.  Kind of a 3 4 1 2.  

 

Ranierii is hit by a back virus and other injuries and has to select a makeshift team with little on the bench.  Belardi keeps goal with a back four of Gygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini and Molinaro.  Camoranesi, Zanetti, new signing Sissoko and Nedved are strung across midfield with Del Piero and Palladino in attack. 

 

Reggina come out hard but quality soon tells and Juventus dominate the early going with an impressive array of touches, the lack of much goal threatening action doesn't stop the Bianconeri from mostly dominating the first half hour. 

Amoruso selfishly shoots when a lay of to the left would have found the open man. 

Del Piero's chance comes at him too quickly and is cleared. 

Camoranesi is floating around and causing the Amaranto a lot of problems. 

Belardi saves well from Modesto.

Sissoko flails at a half chance and pokes the ball over. 

Although Ranierii's men dominate they seem disjointed somehow, the lack of a penalty box striker could explain it.  Seems as though it will be only a matter of time before their neat build up play actually forges a chance that someone will bury in the net. 

Mentally Juventus step off the gas, passes go astray and Reggina claw their way back into the game.  Some sloppy defending leads to a corner; Sissoko half clears the second one and Legrottaglie; not on his best form of the season; is slow to step up which leaves Belardi one on three with the Amaranto attack, Brienza accepts the gift and finishes well past the stranded 'keeper. 

Hardly galvanized into action Juventus still look out of sorts and only reassert their obviously better skill in the final five minutes of the half. 

Again Camoranesi is at the heart of everything good for Juve. 

 

Neither side changes at the half. 

 

Backs to the wall, ten men behind the ball kind of effort from the Amaranto are on the cards and duly delivered. 

Juventus look frustrated and unlikely to force the equalizer as the well drilled home side defend deeper and more resolutely as the half wears on.  What they lack in skill they more than make up for in grit and determination. 

Valdez makes a late and well timed tackle to rob the ball off Sissoko as the Mali International gets a run into the box.  Camoranesi has a go from distance as does Nedved. 

Grygera comes on for the more attack minded Salihamidzic and Ulivieri brings on Tognozzi for Cascione. 

It all goes horribly wrong for the home side a nothing shot without much power behind it finds Campagnolo asleep, he wakes up in time to fumble over the ball as Del Piero wheels away to celebrate another Serie A goal.  Really really poor 'keeping. 

For the rest of the game it's more Juventus attacking and more Reggina defending, Reggina tire first although late on even Juventus start to fade a little. 

Costa gets a rough Serie A debut and a little while later Makinwa is thrown on to replace the injured Brienza. 

Juventus threw it all forward and did very little defending, Reggina clearances allowed them to mostly control possession.  A late break by Amoruso did need Belardi to be alert and quick off his line, n o mean feat for a virtual spectator. 

Injury time and it all exploded. 

Camoranesi's header comes off an arm and Juve expect a spot kick, the ball is cleared well as the referee ignores the pleadings and Reggina attack on the right.  A more hopeful than stunning cross finds Sissoko and Amoruso as favourites for the ball, Sissoko needlessly pulls off some flying kung fu kick which misses the ball and catches Amoruso.  The referee is well places and point to the spot amidst howls and begging please from Juventus. 

Amoruso duly bangs the penalty past his old team mate and Reggina win. 

 

Tough loss for Juventus.  Great win for Reggina.  The ref played the game well enough.  Seemed to get most things right amidst all the diving and play acting. 

How he only gave Legrottaglie only a yellow when the Juventus defender wanted a wrestling match only he will know, he even gave a card after the whistle for a cheap and girly kick by Zanetti. 

 

Juventus:-

Belardi

Grygera (Salihamidzic 61)

Legrottaglie

Chiellini

Molinaro

Camoranesi

Zanetti

Sissoko

Nedved

Palladino

Del Piero

 

 

Goals:-

Del Piero 71

 

Bookings:-

Grygera

Legrottaglie

Zanetti (R )

 

 

Reggina:-

Campagnolo

Lanzario

Valdez

Aronica

Cirillo

Cascione (Tognozzi 63)

Barretto

Modesto (Costa 82)

Vigiani

Brienza (Makinwa 86)

Amoruso

 

Goals:-

Brienza 32

Amoruso 93 (P)

 

Bookings:-

Lanzario

Amoruso

Brienza

 

Referee:-

Dondarini

 

Does it surprise that FSC got the team sheets wrong again?

Er, NO!