/ 2 December 2006

Juventus draw with Genoa

Juventus moved into a tie for first place in Serie B after drawing with Genoa 1-1 on Friday.

Pavel Nedved put Juventus ahead in the 71st minute and Ivan Juric equalised for Genoa three minutes later. Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved a penalty kick in the 31st.

Juventus has 25 points and is tied atop the standings with Napoli, who play Frosinone on Saturday. The Bianconeri are undefeated and have the best record in the second division — 10 wins and four draws — but have a nine-point penalty from the Italian match-fixing scandal, which saw the club relegated.

The game featured two of the most storied clubs in Italy. Genoa, founded in 1893, was the country’s first professional team and Juventus has the most Serie A titles, at 27. The clubs are also regional rivals.

Luigi Ferraris stadium was full with 37 000 fans.

Juventus initially relied on inexperienced Raffaele Palladino and Valeri Bojinov in attack. Palladino had a goal annulled for offside in the fourth minute and Bojinov missed several opportunities.

Juventus defender Alessandro Birindelli was called for a dubious pushing foul on a corner kick in the 31st and Buffon dove to his left to knock Brazilian striker Adailton’s penalty kick off the post.

In the second half, Juventus started using its veteran wingers, Mauro Camoranesi and Nedved, more effectively.

Nedved met a Camoranesi cross with a header that went right at the Genoa keeper in the 70th. A minute later, Nedved scored on a free kick that deflected in off Genoa’s two-man wall.

Three minutes later, Juric received a well-headed pass and chipped the ball in over a charging Buffon.

Nedved was expelled for a straight red card two minutes into injury time. – Sapa-AP