Vicenza 0 - Juventus 3
Del Piero 36', Trezeguet 40', 51'
Sunday 10 June 2001
Ancelotti's team claimed a comprehensive win at Vicenza thanks to goals from Trezeguet (two) and Del Piero. Napoli, with goals from ex-Juve players Amoruso and Pecchia, held Roma to a draw. With just one match of the season
remaining, the Bianconeri are only two points off the top.
For the first half hour of the match it seemed that the Menti stadium would continue its tradition of being a difficult ground for the Bianconeri. This was a match that was crucial for both teams and the initial stages saw very few spaces to create clear opportunities.
Zidane found himself tightly marked, while Trezeguet was literally surrounded by opposing defenders. Vicenza came to life after fourteen minutes with a shot wide from Jeda, but the first real chance on goal wasn't until the twenty-seventh minute. Zambrotta made a brilliant run from deep and crossed well, but Sterchele saved from Trezeguet. After thirty-six minutes Juventus scored the crucial first goal. Alex Del Piero was quick to anticipate the flight of a good cross from the right by Tudor and headed home his sixty-eighth league goal for Juventus.
With this goal he equalled the position of his idol Michel Platini in the
list of the top-scoring Bianconeri of all-time. Having taken the lead,
Juventus started to play with more fluidity and just four minutes later
they scored again: Del Piero crossed into the area where Trezeguet showed
great balance to hit a precise left foot shot past Sterchele. The Frenchman
seems unstoppable in this form.
Six minutes into the second half Juventus put the result beyond any doubt with a brilliantly planned and executed free-kick move. Del Piero found Zidane, who immediately released Zambrotta on the right hand side of the area. His first time cross was tapped home by Trezeguet with his right foot. An excellent team goal. Unfortunately, a few minutes later the Frenchman was forced to leave the field after a strong challenge from Cardone left him suffering a problem with his right ankle.
Kovacevic came on in his place. Juventus kept a hold on the three goal lead
without many problems. Van der Sar stopped a shot from Bernardini, while
Zidane and Zambrotta both went close. The pace of the game fell with
Juventus in control. Ferrara came on for Montero and Brighi took the place
of Zidane. With just two points between Roma and Juve there is still hope.
Yellow Cards:
Vicenza - Tomas 30', Cardone 60'
Juventus - Del Piero 30'
Vicenza (4-4-2): Sterchele; Cardone, Zanchi, Dicara (46' Tomic), Tomas; Firmani, Crovari, Dabo (61' Bernardini), Beghetto; Jeda, Kallon (46' Sommese)
Subs - Santarelli, Marco Aurelio, Sommese, Bernardini, Brncic, Esposito, Tomic
Juventus (4-3-1-2): Van der Sar; Tudor, Montero (81' Ferrara), Iuliano, Paramatti; Zambrotta, Tacchinardi, Pessotto; Zidane (84' Brighi); Del Piero, Trezeguet (69' Kovacevic)
Subs - Carini, Ferrara, Birindelli, Athirson, Brighi, Inzaghi, Kovacevic
Referee: De Santis
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