Saturday - Im sorry Im a little late with the Livorno recap but its been a hectic week and trying to enjoy the dwindling summer. Obviously we absolutely exploded in the 2nd half on saturday putting up 4 more goals and thrashing Livorno. An overall excellent performance from the whole squad, Ranieri's troops played an excellent match. Criscito and Chiellini absolutely shined in defense, Nocerino & Nedved filtered the midfield without a hitch and Trezeguet did what he does best. Zebina, Iaquinta, and Tiago all found time in the 2nd half and impressed with Tiago still needing more time to adjust and find himself in this squad. The two bombers Trez and Iaquinta both did their job and scored three goals and two goals respectively. Il Capitano played well just missing the goal to get on the scoresheet, Buffon also played well the few times he was called into action. Zanetti was very good in the middle paired up with Almiron as they controled the midfield throughout.
The first goal came in the 28th minute after a nice one-two between Nedved and Del Piero, #10 sent in a nice cross for Trez who easily headed in the 1-0. The second half started slow, as there was much more of an equalibrium and Livorno had a few chances. But after Iaquinta came on for Del Piero, the ex-Udinese striker made his mark on the match. He was pulled down in the box and awarded a penalty which he converted for the 2-0. This episode changed the match entirely as Livorno fell apart and proceeded to take on another 3 goals. In the 85th minute, Nedved playing like a 21 year old made one of his notorious slashing runs and ripped a shot which took an opportunistic deflection off of Iaquinta and made it 3-0. Only one minute Iaquinta again played a role in the 4th goal as he made a nice run and slipped through a pass for Trez who made it 4-0. In stoppage time youngster Antonio Nocerino had a wonderful run and then sent in a pinpoint pass to Trez and there was the 5-0. All that was left was for the "tutti a casa ale'" chants to rain down on the Livorno side. Then someone for the other team got a consolation goal as Buffon and myself were asleep at that point. Trezeguet 3 - 1 Livorno........... Iaquinta 2 - 1 Livorno........... highlights
Juventus: Buffon; Salihamidzic (Zebina 73), Andrade, Criscito, Chiellini; Nocerino, Zanetti, Almiron (Tiago 79), Nedved; Del Piero (Iaquinta 60), Trezeguet
Livorno: Amelia; Grandoni, Knezevic, Galante, Pasquale; A Filippini, Loviso, Pulzetti, E Filippini (Volpe 56); Rossini (Diamanti 73), Tavano (Tristan 53)
Scoring -Trezeguet 29, 86, 92 (J), Iaquinta pen 71, 85 (J), Loviso 94 (L)
Wednesday-
Yesterday was our first test in Coppa Italia against Parma at the Stadio Tardini and Claudio Ranieri's first return since helping the club avoid relegation last season. Ranieri was without Del Piero, Nedved, Camoranesi, Zanetti, Criscito and fielded an experimental lineup with Zebina, Legrottaglie, Tiago, and Iaquinta getting their first starts of the season. The bench consisted of Palladino, Molinaro, and Boumsong along with a new crop of Primavera youngsters. Parma countered with a lacklustre squad boasting some serious age (Couto, Coly, Pavarini) and mediocre players (Paci, Tombesi, Castellini, Parravicini) along with the usual youth (Dessena, Reginaldo, Paponi). Overall not an impressive starting 11 to match up with Juventus.
The early first half was played evenly between both sides as Juve looked to find their rythm. Parma did well by staying in the game but as the half went on it was clear Juventus would take over. A few efforts from Almiron, Trezeguet, and Iaquinta made it known that the bianconeri were out to win it. Tiago was paired with Almiron in the central midfield as was intended pre-Nocerino Revelations and he played well but still not better then Nocerino at this point of the season. The deadlock ended a little after the hourmark as Molinaro who was just subbed on, headed in a superb cross from Chiellini to make it 1-0. Ten minutes later Almiron made it 2-0 after a well struck free kick got past Pavarini. A few minutes later a penalty was called on Zebina for bringing down Parma's Igor Budan in the box and Castellini converted for Parma to keep the Ducali in the game. Then in the 85th Salihamidzic sealed the deal as his shot took a lucky deflection and bounched past Pavarini for the 3-1. Three newcomers all scored their first goals with Juventus and helped the Bianconeri advance to the next round of the Coppa Italia where we will face Empoli............ohhhhhhhh la la Giovinco, Marchisio, Volpato against their club of origin.
Scoring: Molinaro 61 (J), Almiron 72 (J), Castellini pen 74 (P), Salihamidzic 85 (J)
Parma: Pavarini; Coly, Paci, Couto, Castellini; Dessena, Parravicini, Morrone, Tombesi (Budan 68); Reginaldo, Paponi (Morfeo 68)
Juventus: Buffon; Zebina, Andrade, Legrottaglie (Boumsong 46), Chiellini; Nocerino (Molinaro 59), Almiron, Tiago, Salihamidzic; Iaquinta (Palladino 79), Trezeguet