INTERTOTO CUP: Juventus Squeezes Through to Avoid Embarrassment
Copyright � 1999 Nando Media
Copyright � 1999 Agence France-Presse
LONDON (July 24, 1999 8:46 p.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - European giants Juventus scraped through to the semifinals of the Intertoto Cup on Saturday after being held to a goal-less home draw by Romanian minnows Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt.
The Italians, who appeared in three consecutive European Cup finals from 1996 and reached the semifinals last season, were forced to enter the Intertoto Cup after finishing only sixth in Serie A.
They had only twice before failed to qualify for Europe - in 1962 and 1991 - but risked embarrassment with a lackluster display on Saturday against a team few Italian fans would have ever heard of.
In the semifinals, they play another outsider, Rostelmash Rostov of Russia, which came through on the away-goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate draw with Croatia's Varteks Verazdin.
Hamburg SV, another former European champion club, won 3-2 at Basle of Switzerland to go through on the away goals rule following their 1-0 home defeat in the first leg.
West Ham United, who finished fifth in the English premier league, edged through with a 1-1 draw at Jokerit of Finland.
The Finns took the lead in the 32nd minute after an error by West Ham keeper Shaka Hislop to make the aggregate score level at 1-1.
But Frank Lampard equalized on the night with a free kick to send the London side through to face Dutch side Heerenveen, who overcame Hammarby 2-0 in Sweden for a 4-0 aggregate.
Among other sides to progress on Saturday were Germany's MSV Duisburg, French duo Montpellier and Metz, Austria Vienna and Trabzonspor of Turkey.
