Juventus Off To A Winning Start
MILAN, Sept 30 (September 30, 2000 5:16 p.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Alessandro Del Piero grabbed the winner as Juventus came from behind to win 2-1 at newly-promoted Napoli on the opening day of the Serie A season on Saturday.
Del Piero, who has been heavily criticised in the media and who was dropped from the Juventus side for Tuesday's Champions League game with Deportivo Coruna, answered his critics with a classy, curling, left-foot shot in the 75th minute.
Juventus had been on the backfoot in the early stages and went behind in the 41st minute when defender Ciro Ferrara gave away the ball.
Napoli winger David Sesa burst down the right flank and Roberto Stellone slotted home his low cross.
A minute after the break, Filippo Inzaghi hit the crossbar with a header for Juventus and then put the ball wide from close range after good work from Del Piero.
Juve coach Carlo Ancelotti brought on 'supersub' Darko Kovecevic in the 65th minute and two minutes later he had brought the Turin side level with a majestic header from a Zinedine Zidane cross.
Ancelotti was delighted with the result and in particular Del Piero's goal.
"We really struggled to find space in the first half but we did better after the break and to say I am pleased for Del Piero would be an understatement," said the Juventus boss.
Earlier, Bari and Verona had officially opened the new Italian campaign with a low-key 1-1 draw.
Bari took the lead in the 81st minute when Svede Yksel Osmanovski was pulled down inside the penalty area and his compatriot Daniel Andersson converted the spot kick.
But Verona grabbed an equaliser three minutes from the end when defender Natale Gonnella volleyed home a corner for his first goal in Serie A.
Prior to the goals both sides had been cautious although Bari had the better of the few chances and Osmanovksi went close on the stroke of half-time with a low shot at the near post.
