Galatasaray Earn 1-1 Draw With Juventus
Copyright � 1998 Nando.net
Copyright � 1998 Reuters
ISTANBUL (Dec 2, 1998 - 18:15 EST) - Turkey's Galatasary snatched a last minute goal to secure a 1-1 draw against Italy's Juventus in a tense European Champions' League group B match in Istanbul on Wednesday.
The draw was a fair reflection of a cagey game played under intense security in chilly drizzle. Neither side had excelled and the offside flag dominated.
Nicola Amoruso put Juventus ahead with a 76th minute goal driven between Galatasaray's Brazilian international Claudio Taffarel and his near post. Amoruso's atrike shocked the Turks who were reforming after a double substitution.
Juventus responded to their goal by bringing on defender Igor Tudor for striker Filippo Inzaghi, hoping to return the game to the stalemate of the first half.
But, galvanized by the goal, the Turkish side squeezed through the reinforced defense and were rewarded when Suat Kaya headed a goal from a Gheorghe Hagi freekick just before the final whistle.
"We conceded an unnecessary goal...but it had a shock effect and after that we created four or five chances," Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim told reporters after the match.
The result puts the Turks top of the group on goals scored over Rosenborg, both on eight points, and leaves Juventus in third with five points and one match to play.
"We are sorry, we wanted to win and say hello to a place in the quarterfinals," Terim said. "But the goal was very pleasing because our challenge continues."
For Juventus, mounting a challenge is a more remote possibility.
"Now we have to beat Rosenborg and Galatasaray must lose against Athletic Bilbao," Italian coach Marcello Lippi said.
Wednesday's match was played under heavy security after being delayed for a week amid safety concerns caused by a diplomatic row between Ankara and Rome.
Some 21,000 police and troops were on duty for the game.
Anti-Italian sentiment is running high in Turkey after an Italian court refused to extradite Kurdish guerrilla leader Abdullah Ocalan to Turkey where is is wanted for treason and murder.
An exhausted-looking Terim thanked his team's supporters for their good behavior.
"I want to thank everybody for their calm and support in this unbelievable atmosphere," he said.
Lippi rebuffed questions on the game's political aspect.
"It was a good game. That is what it was about, and nothing else," he said.
