Socrates

Serie A Week 18 - 21-12-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 3 Mauricio Pinilla (16′-PG) Alessandro Matri (75′) Alessandro Matri (90+2′) Mirko Vučinić (90+4′) Ennio Tardini Stadium - Parma Referee: Antonio Damato Attendance: 8500 Matri brace bails out Bianconeri Dec 21, 2012 Juventus defeated Cagliari 3-1 on Friday night in Serie A at the Ennio Tardini thanks to a brace from Alessandro Matri and a late Mirko Vucinic goal which completed their second half comeback. The game did not get off to the quickest of starts but it was eventually Cagliari who took the lead. In a strange atmosphere inside the Ennio Tardini stadium, the Rossoblu’s latest home, Ivo Pulga’s men took the lead thanks to a penalty awarded for a foul on Marco Sau. Arturo Vidal was at fault for the lazy challenge and referee Damato pointed straight to the spot. Mauricio Pinilla stepped up to convert the spot kick, beating Gianluigi Buffon to his right. After conceding, Juventus dominated possession and could have considered themselves hard done by not to receive a penalty of their own when Davide Astori seemed to put his arm round Fabio Quagliarella and pull him to the ground inside the area after a long ball forward. However Antonio Conte’s men could not muster an equaliser before the half time whistle blew and the frustrating first half for the Bianconeri was brought to a close. The Old Lady began the second half brightly and again perhaps felt enraged they had not been awarded a another penalty. After a header had ricocheted off the post, Matri saw his rebounded effort saved by Michael Agazzi only for Kwadwo Asamoah to head his effort wide from close range. The Ghanaian felt he had been pushed in the back and black and white shirts swamped the official on the goal line but the protests were futile. Cagliari attempts to keep Juventus at bay suffered a severe blow when Davide Astori was shown his second yellow for a challenge on Giovinco that seemed unnecessary. Eventually the Old Lady were awarded a penalty as Giovinco was brought down in the area despite the fact he seemed to go to ground a little easy. Vidal was handed responsibility to repay the penalty he had given away in the first half but failed to keep his composure and blasted the ball high and wide. It seemed almost inevitable that Juventus would find an equaliser and the huge spells of pressure Conte’s men had created eventually paid off. Substitute Vucinic drove a shot from the edge of the area which was too hot to handle for Agazzi in the Cagliari goal, who spilled the ball at Matri’s feet. The former Cagliari man reacted fastest and tapped home the equaliser to the delight of the travelling fans behind the goal. With two minutes remaining, Juventus were still pressing for the winner and it nearly came had it not been for a fine save from Agazzi. Asamoah made a good run in front of his marker and directed his header goalward but he Cagliari keeper was on hand however to tip the attempt onto the post and eventually scramble the ball away. Six minutes of injury time were added but Juventus only needed two in order to complete their comeback. After the Cagliari defence attempted to clear the ball down field, the ball bounced off Vidal and dropped perfectly into Matri’s path. Calmly the forward tucked the ball home and doubled his own and Juventus’ tally in the game. With Cagliari already beaten, Giovinco broke at speed and step up Vucinic to tap home from close range to seal all three points for the Old Lady and put them 10 points clear. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 18 - 21-12-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 3 Mauricio Pinilla (16′-PG) Alessandro Matri (75′) Alessandro Matri (90+2′) Mirko Vučinić (90+4′) Ennio Tardini Stadium - Parma Referee: Antonio Damato Attendance: 8500 Juventus restore 10-point lead Dec 21, 2012 Juventus scored twice in second half stoppage time to restore their 10-point lead at the top of Serie A, beating Cagliari Calcio 3-1. The hosts took a shock lead in the 15th minute when Mauricio Pinilla blasted a penalty past Gianluigi Buffon after the referee adjudged Arturo Vidal to have brought Marco Sau down inside the box. Andrea Pirlo threatened towards the end of the first half, sending in a curling effort that Michael Agazzi had to be on hand to save. Agazzi was called into action again two minutes after the restart, producing a fine save from Claudio Marchisio's effort. Cagliari almost doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark when Sau unleashed a snapshot having escaped Leonardo Bonucci, but his goalbound effort was stopped by Buffon. Juventus came within a whisker of getting an equalising goal in the 64th minute when Bonucci headed an effort against the bar, before Alessandro Matri and Kwadwo Asamoah both missed rebounds. The hosts' task was made even harder just a minute later when Davide Astori was shown a second yellow card for a foul of Sebastian Giovinco. Juventus should have capitalised almost immediately as they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Giovinco five minutes later. However, Vidal blasted the spot kick high and wide. The league leaders finally got an equaliser with 15 minutes left, however, as Matri was the fastest to react to Agazzi's save from Mirko Vucinic's shot to tap in the rebound. Agazzi then produced a wonderful save from Asamoah's close range header before Juventus finally found the winner, Matri slotting home his second of the game. The visitors put the icing on the cake in the 95th minute when Giovinco's shot was turned in from a couple of yards out by Vucinic. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 18 - 21-12-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 3 Mauricio Pinilla (16′-PG) Alessandro Matri (75′) Alessandro Matri (90+2′) Mirko Vučinić (90+4′) Ennio Tardini Stadium - Parma Referee: Antonio Damato Attendance: 8500 Juve clinch late win over Cagliari Juventus came from behind to set a new league record of 94 points in a calendar year thanks to a 3-1 win over Cagliari. The Sardinians went in front but a brace from Matri turned the game around. Dec 21, 2012 Juventus came from behind to set a new league record of 94 points in a calendar year thanks to a 3-1 win over Cagliari. Mauricio Pinilla put the Sardinians in front in the 16th minute, but a brace from Alessandro Matri, after Arturo Vidal had missed a penalty, turned the game around. Mirko Vucinic added a third deep into stoppage time while Cagliari ended the game with 10 men with Davide Astori picking up two yellow cards. Cagliari were on their travels again, choosing Parma this time as their base for the final match of 2012 after their Is Arenas home was once again denied a safety certificate. The proximity to Turin, however, meant that the majority of the fans inside the Stadio Tardini were officially supporting the away team, which became particularly evident when a penalty was awarded to Cagliari in the 15th minute. Vidal fouled Marco Sau inside the penalty area, and after a moment of hesitation and consultation with the referee behind the goal, a penalty was given. Pinilla stepped up and sent his shot high into the top left-hand corner of the goal. At other end, a cross from Kwadwo Asamoah passed close in front of Fabio Quagliarella, who was not able to pounce from close range. Juventus had their own penalty claims, the first of which came in the 39th minute when Astori held Quagliarella, who went to ground. Their next appeal came in the 64th minute when Asamoah headed wide after receiving a nudge in the back, but again the referee said no. That chance came after Leonardo Bonucci hit the crossbar and Matri's shot was saved by Michael Agazzi. A minute later, Astori was sent off for a second yellow card, but it still took the Bianconeri time to make their pressure count. They got the penalty they were looking for in the 71st minute when Dario Del Fabro tripped Sebastian Giovinco, but Vidal wasted the chance, blazing the ball over the crossbar for his second spot-kick failure this season. Juve finally drew level in the 75th minute through Matri, who pounced after Mirko Vucinic's shot was only parried by Agazzi. Agazzi made a stunning one-handed stop to push Asamoah's header onto the post and then kick the rebound clear in the 89th minute as it looked like 10-man Cagliari were going to hold on. However, two minutes into stoppage time, Matri scored his second when Vidal blocked Nene's clearance and the ball fell kindly for the former Cagliari striker to slot in. Three minutes later, Vucinic made sure Giovinco's bundled shot crossed the line to seal one more win for Juventus in 2012. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 18 - 21-12-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 3 Mauricio Pinilla (16′-PG) Alessandro Matri (75′) Alessandro Matri (90+2′) Mirko Vučinić (90+4′) Ennio Tardini Stadium - Parma Referee: Antonio Damato Attendance: 8500 Matri & Vucinic strike lead to sink Cagliari Alessandro Matri and Mirko Vucinic scored late in the second half to give Juventus a 3-1 win over 10-man Cagliari. Dec 21, 2012 The Bianconeri opted for Martin Caceres at centre-back following Giorgio Chiellini's injury in midweek, whilst Fabio Quagliarella was given a start up top as they aimed to end 2012 on a high. Ivo Pulga’s men meanwhile were looking for the three points that would take them up to 13th, and did so by giving Pinilla and Marco Sau a starting berth. And it was the Italian striker who claimed the first opportunity as he weaved his way into the away side’s penalty area on 16 minutes, only to be tripped by Arturo Vidal. His strike-partner Pinilla step up to take the resulting spot-kick, and dispatched it fantastically into the top left-hand corner leaving Gianluigi Buffon no chance. The Old Lady were not down heartened however, and soon came roaring back. Stephan Lichtsteiner and Kwadwo Asamoah were providing width with their bombastic runs, as Andrea Pirlo looked to be provider at the base of the midfield – chances though, were not forthcoming. The Sicilian side’s backline were proving more than capable, as any threats posed by Antonio Conte’s men were quickly nullified – the closest the Turin side came before the half-time whistle was a scuffed volley from inside the area by Quagliarella. Whatever the management said at the break, it clearly worked, as Juve came out for the second period a rejuvenated team. They upped their intensity, their commitment and their quality – but still they couldn’t find that opening. Claudio Marchisio went close early on, but his effort was saved well by Michael Agazzi. Their best chance however, fell on 63 minutes as a Pirlo corner found the head of Leonardo Bonucci, who powered an effort against the bar. Substitute Matri then saw his follow-up tipped away by the goalkeeper, before Asamoah flicked his own header wide. It was a let-off for the Isolani, but their luck changed soon after as Davide Astori was sent off for a second bookable offence after a trip on Sebastian Giovinco. Six minutes later, and it got even worse, as the diminutive forward was tripped inside the area by Daniele Del Fabro. Arturo Vidal however, stepped up to take the spot-kick, and fired it high over the bar. The Bianconeri weren’t to be denied though, as just moments after the penalty miss, a Vucinic shot was palmed away by the keeper, only for Matri to pounce and slot home. There was still enough time for Agazzi to make an exceptional stop from a close-range Asamoah header, but with just minutes left of the match a Thiago Ribeiro clearance inside the Cagliari area ricocheted off of Vidal, into Matri’s path, and the striker eased the ball in to sink his old club. And it got even better for Juve, as with virtually the last kick of the game, Vucinic tapped in to make it 3-1. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cagliari: Agazzi; Pisano, Astori, Ariaudo, Murru (Perico 53); Dessena, Nainggolan, Ekdal; Thiago Ribeiro; Pinilla, Sau (Del Fabro 67) Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Caceres (Padoin 62); Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Quagliarella (Matri 61), Giovinco (Vucinic 72) Astori sent off 65 ( C); Vidal missed pen 71 (J) http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 18 - 21-12-2012 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 3 Mauricio Pinilla (16′-PG) Alessandro Matri (75′) Alessandro Matri (90+2′) Mirko Vučinić (90+4′) Ennio Tardini Stadium - Parma Referee: Antonio Damato Attendance: 8500‎ Matri returns to haunt Rossoblu Antonio Conte's men staged a late turnaround in Parma as they end the year with a victory against a stubborn Sardinian side. Dec 21, 2012 Juventus produced a late fightback in their final match of 2012 as they beat a plucky Cagliari side 3-1 at Stadio Ennio Tardini in Parma. The Rossoblu took the lead in the first half when Arturo Vidal felled Marco Sau in the area and Mauricio Pinilla converted from the spot, but the Bianconeri fought back to level through Alessandro Matri and the substitute stole the victory for the visitors in added time with his second strike before Vucinic made sure of the points. The Old Lady controlled the opening stages of the match, finding each other with consummate ease and exploiting the space offered up to them by their opponents, but couldn’t maintain that composure in the final third. Their predicament was epitomised by Claudio Marchisio’s wasteful pass in the area after a sharp exchange between Sebastian Giovinco and Kwadwo Asamoah, the midfielder coming up short in his attempt to set up Fabio Quagliarella. Juventus then fell behind after 15 minutes as the hosts took the lead in their adopted home from the penalty spot. Marco Sau was upended by a clumsy challenge in the area from Arturo Vidal and referee Antonio Damato took his time to deliberate before eventually pointing to the spot. Mauricio Pinilla stepped up and rattled the penalty beyond Gigi Buffon into the top left-hand corner to give his side the unexpected advantage. The visitors continued to dominate possession but failed to put Michael Agazzi’s goal under any real threat before halftime. Asamoah fizzed a dangerous ball across the face of goal and Quagliarella and Stephan Lichsteiner both blazed wide from promising positions, but it took until the 43rd minute for Andrea Pirlo to register the Bianconeri’s first shot on target with a low drive from the edge of the area. Juventus had a penalty shout of their own turned down by Domato when Quagliarella appeared to be hauled down by Davide Astori as Cagliari protected their lead with minimal fuss up to the break. The visitors began to probe with a bit more intent after the break. Marchisio forced a more meaningful stop from Agazzi and a last-ditch block denied the same player after a smart turn in the area as Conte’s men tried to crank up the pressure on Cagliari. At the other end Sau continued to keep the Bianconeri defence on their feet, firstly forcing Buffon to tip over after an instinctive turn and shot before flashing a low centre along the Juventus goal. Asamoah felt he should have had a penalty midway through the second half when he was barged in the back following a corner. Leonardo Bonucci’s initial header came back of the frame of the goal and when substitute Alessandro Matri had his follow up saved, the winger appeared to be shoved in the back as he skewed his header wide from 2-yards out. Cagliari were then reduced to 10-men as captain Astori was dismissed for a second bookable offence after a needless trip on Giovinco and soon after the visitors had a penalty of their own to level things up. Substitute Dario Del Fabro’s first contribution to proceedings was to foul the tricky Giovinco in his own box but Vidal couldn’t atone for his earlier misdemeanour and skied his penalty over the bar. Cagliari’s luck eventually ran out and it was the combination of the two substitutes Mirko Vucinic and Matri that finally undid the hosts defence. Pirlo found the Montenegrin on the edge of the area and his ferocious effort was spilt by Agazzi at the feet of Matri who prodded the ball home after reacting quickest. Matri then proved to be the hero as Nene's poor clearance deflected off Vidal and into the former Cagliari man's path as he kept his cool to slot past Agazzi in stoppage time. Vucinic then made sure of the points as he converted Giovinco's low centre from a couple of yards out to complete the comeback. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Marotta rules out Juventus pursuit of Drogba The Ivorian had been put forward as a possible striking reinforcement for the Bianconeri, who have been accused of lacking potency, but their general manager is looking elsewhere. Dec 21, 2012 Beppe Marotta has dismissed suggestions that Juventus are ready to sign Didier Drogba once the transfer window reopens in January. The Cote d'Ivoire international only joined Shanghai Shenhua in the summer after he opted to call time on his eight-year spell at Chelsea, but he has been linked with a move to Turin following the Italian champions' struggles to find a consistent goalscorer. However, speaking prior to Juventus' Serie A clash with Cagliari on Friday, the general manager explained that Drogba's imminent participation in the African Cup of Nations and Giorgio Chiellini's injury have forced the Bianconeri to change their plans in the market. "Drogba? I don't know who has come up with this idea, but we have not had any contact, partly because he will play at the Africa Cup of Nations and be unavailable for an extended period," Marotta told Sky Sport Italia. "Due to the sale of Lucio and Chiellini's injury, we are looking for a defensive player. Regarding the attack, we are vigilant because there is also the Champions League. "But you must have respect for this group of players. We are the team that have scored the highest number of goals in the box." Marotta also reflected on the Lega Calcio's decision to move the match against the Sardinians to the Tardini in Emilia-Romagna and insisted that his side had no choice but to follow the governing body's orders. "We had to adjust ourselves to the Lega Calcio's decision to move the venue," he added. "It is an inconvenience for us and our fans who have had to pay for tickets, but they will be refunded. "It's no good to see a game like this with only 3,000 spectators."

ALESSANDRO MATRI 1-2

Che occasione!

Vucinic spara alto

ALESSANDRO MATRI 1-1

Non é possibile

Ora é rigore per la Juve.

Padoin spara fuori.

Gli arbitri hanno colpito.

Espulso anche Pulga.

Orsato in malafede. Non poteva non aver visto la spinta su Asamoah.

Terna arbitrale in confusione totale. Espulso Astori.

Padoin al posto di Caceres. Lichtsteiner passa in difesa.

Matri per Quagliarella. Matri ex del Cagliari.

Quagliarella non combina niente.

Damato sta perdendo la testa. Errori continui.

Murru rischia il secondo giallo.

Chissá che gli avrá gridato Conte negli spogliatoi!

Para Agazzi sul tiro di Marchisio.