Juventus Made To Sweat For Last Four Cup Spot
MILAN, Jan 17 (AFP) - Juventus were made to work hard as a depleted side clung on to their 5-4 aggregate qualification for the semi-finals of the Italian Cup against Atalanta on Thursday.
Juventus had a 4-2 lead from the first leg but were without top performers Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet and Pavel Nedved and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon for the return.
Atalanta wasted an early chance to take the lead in Bergamo after Christiano Doni missed a penalty awarded when French international Lilian Thuram's fouled Gianni Comandini.
Uruguayan international Marcelo Zalayeta fired Juventus into a ninth-minute lead, but Atalanta struck back in a second-half charge.
Goals from 18-year-old Rolando Bianchi in the 72nd minute and Brazilian Inacio Pia three minutes later put Atalanta back in the tie.
But the 2-1 defeat on the night was just enough for Juventus, who face AC Milan in semi-final over two legs on January 23 and February 7.
Milan lost 3-2 to Lazio on Wednesday but qualified 5-3 on aggregate.
The other semi-final pitches Parma against Brescia after their qualification last week.
