AC Milan 1 - Juventus 2
Wednesday 23rd January 2002
An under-strength Juventus side beat AC Milan in the first leg of the Italian Cup semi-final on Wednesday night thanks to a late goal from substitute Alessandro Del Piero to put them in a healthy position ahead of the return in Turin.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti left Andriy Shevchenko on the bench and opted for Spanish forward duo Jose Mari and Javi Moreno.
Juventus, meanwhile, played with Nicola Amoruso and Uruguayan Marcelo Zalayeta up front as Marcello Lippi rested Pavel Nedved, Del Piero, David Trezeguet, Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Pessotto.
Milan started well and Juve keeper Fabien Carini had to stop Cristian Brocchi, who had been released by Serginho.
Juventus soon gained the advantage, however, and Edgar Davids's shot grazed the post after 21 minutes, the Dutchman capitalising on Martin Laursen's mistake.
The best chance for Juve came on 38 minutes when Ciro Ferrara met Enzo Maresca's free-kick but the defender's header hit the bar.
Milan then took the lead after Jos� Mari had headed on a long ball to find Javi Moreno, who struggled to control it but then fired home.
The home team then dominated the remaining minutes of the first half but were undone in the second.
Juventus equalised immediately after the break. Alessio Tacchinardi rolled a free-kick to Alessandro Birindelli, whose shot took a wicked deflection off Gennaro Gatusso and beat Sebastiano Rossi.
Javi Moreno had a good chance before Ancelotti added pressure on Juve by replacing Cristian Brocch with Andriy Shevchenko.
Lippi, meanwhile, threw on Pavel Nedved and Alex Del Piero. And it was the Juventus coach who was celebrating in the end as Del Piero scored the winner with four minutes remaining.
Cristian Zenoni swept past Thomas Helveg and found the Italy forward with a low cross.
Rossi had no chance and the Rossoneri did not find an equaliser despite late pressure.
AC Milan: Rossi, Roque Junior (Contra 71), Chamot, Laursen, Helveg, Brocchi (Shevchenko 65), Gattuso, Donati, Serginho, Jos� Mari (Umit 77), Javi Moreno.
Juventus: Carini, Birindelli, Ferrara, Montero, Paramatti (Pessotto 84), Zenoni, Tacchinardi (Nedved 67), Maresca, Davids, Amoroso (Del Piero 75), Zalayeta.
Referee: Stefano Braschi (Prato)
Booked: Jos� Mari, Contra (Milan); Bireindelli, Ferrara, Maresca, Davids (Juventus)
