25 February 2010

Juve through to final 16

Zaccheroni fielded a 4-3-1-2 formation with Diego behind strikers Del Piero and Amauri, two of the protagonists of the first leg.

The first few minutes saw a very aggressive Ajax but Juventus soon took the necessary measure slowly taking the reins of the match in their hands and cfreating a number of goal opportunities.

On the 2^nd minute, Manninger is in a bit of difficulty at first but he manages to save. One minute later, a powerful Marchisio shot from outside the area is saved by the keeper. The 4^th minute sees a Vertonghen shot go well high over the bar.

It is the 5th minute when Manninger saves well on Sulejmani. Four minutes later, Amauri manages to win a corner from an impossible position: ball into the area but the defence clears.

The 11^th minute sees a corner for Juve after a good bit of action: the ball is however a bit too long and seconds later a De Jong attempt goes very high over the bar. On the 13^th minute it is once again De Jong heads very high over the bar.

On the 14^th minute, Trezeguet comes on for an injured Amauri and two minutes later, a good Diego cross into the area is cleared into corner by the defence: Del Piero puts the ball into the area, Sissoko heads well but the ball hits the post!

It is the 22^nd minute. Chiellini clears into corner from a very dangerous cross: from the flag the ball is put into the area, Manninger saves but the ball slips from his hand and luckily the shot is high over the bar. Two minutes later, a De Ceglie cross is cleared by the defence.

The 25^th minute sees a ball into the Ajax area sees the keeper saving on Trezeguet. On the 32^nd minute it is three consecutive corners for Juve. The first corner for Juve: ball into the area and Legrottaglie's header is deviated into another corner. From the flag it is the keeper who saves once again into corner. The third shot from the flag is cleared by the defence.

One minute later, there is a free-kick for Juve: Diego puts the ball into the area. There are a series of attempts all blcoked before the ball is cleared with difficulty. What bad luck.

On the 39^th minute, there is a corner for Ajax: Legrottaglie heads the ball away from the area. The counter-attack finally sees Diego's shot hitting a defender.

The 44^th minute sees a corner for Ajax which is cleared by the defence. One minute later there is a free-kick for Juve: ball cleared into out by the defence. The first half of the match ends after 1 minute of stoppage time.

The second half once again saw an aggressive Ajax, desperate to score in order to hope for the best. On the 3^rd minute, a De Zeeuw cross is headed away by Grygera. One minute later, there is a corner for Ajax: Pantelic heads just high with Manninger well positioned.

On the 8^th minute, an Eriksen shot is saved by Manninger. Seven minutes later, there is a free-kick for Juve following a foul on the captain: Del Piero's ball goes high and wide. Three minutes later, a Pantelic shot goes high.

The 20^th minutes sees a free-kick for Juve: ball into the area but it is cleared by the defence. One minute later, a ball into the Juve area finds Del Piero and Trezeguet disturbing one another.

It is the 23^rd minute when a De Jong header following a cross into the area goes wide. One minute later, Camoranesi comes on for Diego. The 25^th minutes, sees a free-kick for Juve after a foul on the run on Sissoko: Del Piero's ball is deviated and the ball goes out for a corner: The captain puts the ball into the area but Legrottaglie is anticipated. From the rebound a Marchisio shot is saved by the keeper.

On the 26^th minute, Camoranesi puts in a good cross but there is nobody in the area to push it in. Five minutes later, there is a free-kick for Ajax: Manninger punches the ball away.

The 33^rd minute sees a dangerous Ajax cross is cleared into corner by Legrottaglie. From the flag the cross is too long to scare Juve. Three minutes later, there is a free-kick for Ajax: Emanuelson hits the wall.

It is the 38^th minute when De Ceglie anticipates a very dangerous low cross and Manninger saves well on an Emanuelson shot. Two minutes later, Legrottaglie makes an impressive intervention to clear the area.

On the 41^st minute, there is a bad foul on Camoranesi by Vertonghen and free-kick for Juve: Camoranesi puts the ball into the area, Trezeguet heads but the keeper saves. Candreva comes on for Del Piero.

The 44^th minute sees a corner for Ajax: cleared by the defence. One minute later, a good Candreva pass finds Trezeguet unprepared. On the last minute outside the 3 of stoppage time, a corner for Ajax is cleared by the defence once again into corner. Finally the ball reaches Emanuelson who sends it just wide.

The match ends after 93 minutes in a goalless draw and with Juventus making it through to the final 16 (2-1 aggregate) in which round they will meet London side Fulham who eliminated Shakhtar Donetsk on 3-2 aggregate.

Europa League – Round of 32 second leg

Turin, Stadio Olimpico

25^th February, 2010

JUVENTUS-AJAX : 0-0

JUVENTUS: Manninger, Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, De Ceglie; Sissoko, Felipe Melo, Marchisio; Diego (Camoranesi 69th); Amauri (Trezeguet 14th), Del Piero (Candreva 87th). Reserves: Pinsoglio, Cannavaro, Zebina, Camoranesi, Candreva, Giovinco, Trezeguet, Paolucci. Coach: Zaccheroni.

AJAX: Stekelenburg, Van der Wiel, Oleguer, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; De Zeeuw, Enoh (Rommedahl 77th), Eriksen; De Jong; Pantelic (Emanuelson 75th), Sulejmani (Suk 64th). Reserves: Vermeer, Anita, Lodeiro, Gabri, Suk, Emanuelson, Rommedahl. Coach: Jol.

REFEREE: Duhamel (France)

Yellow Cards: Melo (60^th), Enoh (70^th), Eriksen (84^th), Vertonghen (87^th),