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Rediff.com  » Sports » Juventus clinch extra-time victory over Barca

Juventus clinch extra-time victory over Barca

By Kevin Fylan in Barcelona
April 23, 2003 10:32 IST
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Substitute striker Marcelo Zalayeta struck six minutes before the end of extra-time to earn 10-man Juventus a 2-1 win over Barcelona on Tuesday and send them into the Champions League semi-finals on a 3-2 aggregate.

Barcelona had come back from a flashing Pavel Nedved strike for the Italians after 53 minutes to equalise through Xavi 13 minutes later and leave the tie level at 1-1 on the night and 2-2 over the two legs.

The Catalans were then handed a huge advantage when Juve's Edgar Davids was sent off for a second yellow card after 80 minutes.

Barca spent most of the extra-time period camped in the Juventus half but their approach play was imprecise and their finishing simply not good enough, especially with Gianluigi Buffon at his unhurried best.

Radomir Antic's side continued to press forward, leaving some huge gaps at the back, and they were stung as Alessandro Birindelli broke down the right and sent over a low cross that Zalayeta touched in.

The goal was just reward for a heroic rearguard action from Juventus, who played a total of 41 minutes a man short.

Juve's prize for ending Barcelona's 15-match unbeaten run in Europe this season will be a semi-final against either Real Madrid or Manchester United and the chance of a place in the final to be staged at Old Trafford.

Barcelona will be left to rue a glorious opportunity to get something from a dreadful season after dominating the game, virtually from start to finish.

The first half may have finished goalless but it was played at a frantic pace as Barcelona took the adventurous approach their coach had promised.

Luis Enrique was only just denied in the penalty area inside the first minute after Patrick Kluivert had flicked on Frank de Boer's long clearance.

A couple of minutes later Marc Overmars picked out Javier Saviola with an accurate cross from the right but the Argentine's header was well over.

Pavel Nedved struck a shot just wide of Roberto Bonano's goal in the fifth minute but Barca were soon on the attack again as Luis Enrique fed Saviola, who turned inside the area and shot straight at Buffon.

Nedved was enjoying a battle with Thiago Motta in the midfield and the Czech midfielder plundered the ball on 14 minutes and found Alessandro Del Piero, who saw his shot well blocked by Bonano.

Del Piero was just wide with a flick-header as the chances continued to come thick and fast.

Lilian Thuram appeared to use a hand in the area to control the ball as Kluivert threatened but English referee Graham Poll was unimpressed with Barca's claims for a penalty.

Thuram was in trouble again as he brought down Michael Reiziger just outside the box as halftime approached.

Poll waved play on as the ball broke to Saviola and Barca eventually worked the ball across to Kluivert, who skewed a shot just wide.

At the start of the second half Luis Enrique gave Juventus an incredible let-off, as he beat two players in the area to give himself a clear sight of goal only to lift his shot wide.

Barcelona could not expect to get away with such profligacy and were punished with Nedved's brilliance, as he cut past Patrik Andersson, left Frank de Boer for dead and beat Bonano at his near post.

Barca were roared on by a 98,000 full house at the Nou Camp and they did manage to equalise as Xavi finished emphatically after Thuram could only half clear a cross from the left.

The sending-off of Davids should have been their prompt for an eighth straight home victory in Europe but they found the Juventus defence utterly immovable as the Italians first frustrated them and then finished Barca off with typical style.

It was Juve's first win in Spain since 1970.
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Kevin Fylan in Barcelona
Source: REUTERS
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