Juventus 3-1 Chievo: Bianconeri bounce back to extend Serie A advantage A week after dropping points in Verona, the Bianconeri ultimately cruised to a comfortable victory thanks to goals from Kwadwo Asamoah, Claudio Marchisio and Fernando Fernando Llorente Juventus returned to winning ways by defeating Chievo 3-1 in Antonio Contes 100th match at the helm to move 12 points clear of Roma at the top of Serie A, The reigning champions triumphed under coach the former Italy international for the 70th time in the league to continue their perfect home record this season. Contes side controlled the first half, which was highlighted by Kwadwo Asamoahs stunning goal. Asamoah nipped in between two Chievo players after a darting run and then finished a one-two with Fernando Llorente with a superb 20-yard curling effort. Claudio Marchisio tapped in to double Juves lead, although Chievo got back into the game in bizarre circumstances, as Stephan Lichtsteiners clearance hit Martin Caceres and went in. Juve had let a two-goal lead slip against Chievos local rivals Verona last week, but Llorentes header calmed nerves and sealed the result. The hosts, without Giorgio Chiellini due to a calf problem, started brightly despite Carlos Tevez and Paul Pogba dropping to the bench. Llorente and Andrea Pirlo shot over in the first 10 minutes before Asamoahs effort in the 17th minute left Chievo goalkeeper Michael Agazzi, on debut after a move from Cagliari, with no chance. Llorente then curled against the crossbar, although it would not have counted due to a foul in the build-up, before Agazzis day went from bad to worse. The 29-year-old spilled a routine free-kick from Pirlo that bounced in front of him and Marchisio benefited, stealing in ahead of Gennaro Sardo to tap in from close range. A promising Boukary Drame run amounted to nothing for Chievo, who almost found themselves three goals down after the break when Leonardo Bonucci was agonisingly close to meeting a Pirlo free-kick at the far post after Cyril Thereaus inadvertent flick-on. The Turin crowd was silenced in the 51st minute though as, under pressure, Lichtsteiner smashed a clearance into the backside of Caceres, leaving Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon stranded as the ball looped into the net. Before any jitters could creep in, however, the league leaders restored their two-goal advantage seven minutes later, as a Pirlo corner - which came after a dangerous free-kick of his was tipped wide - was nodded in by Llorente, after Agazzi came for the ball and missed it. Pablo Daniel Osvaldo - making his home debut - and Tevez came off the bench in the latter stages for Juve but the Southampton loanee could only blaze over from close range with a late chance. It mattered little though as Juventus celebrated Contes milestone in style.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Feb 2014 15:29:42 +0000
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