Juventus spoil debutant’s ball
J UVENTUS stunned Champions League holders Chelsea as Fabio Quagliarella’s late strike rescued a dramatic 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge and ruined Oscar’s command performance for the Blues last night.
Oscar marked his first start for Chelsea with an impressive brace that included a stunning solo effort to fire Roberto di Matteo’s side into a 2-0 lead before half-time in their Group E opener.
But the Brazilian international midfielder’s heroics were in vain thanks to a gutsy recovery from the Italian champions, who reduced the deficit before halftime through the efforts of Arturo Vidal and salvaged a point with 10 minutes left, thanks to Quagliarella’s clinical finish.
While Blues boss Di Matteo will have been encouraged by his new recruit’s eye-catching display, it was Chelsea’s defensive frailties that were the defining factor.
Sefender David Luiz had the first chance when he poked Frank Lampard’s corner straight at Gianluigi Buffon with just three minutes gone.
But Juventus had a glorious chance to snatch the lead against the run of play midway through the half.
Andrea Barzagli floated a long pass over the top of the Chelsea defence and Claudio Marchisio’s run evaded the offside trap, yet, with only Petr Cech to beat, the midfielder’s first touch was poor and he could only send a shot straight at the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Chelsea made the visitors pay for their profligacy in the 31st minute as Oscar opened the scoring.
Eden Hazard slipped a pass to Oscar 25m from the goal and the Juventus defence made the fatal mistake of standing off the Brazilian.
He took full advantage with a powerful strike that had a crucial deflection off Leonardo Bonucci as it flashed past Buffon. Oscar took the spotlight again two minutes later.
With his confidence skyhigh, the Brazilian collected Ashley Cole’s pass on the edge of the penalty area and fooled two Juventus defenders with a sublime flick to make space for a magnificent curling effort that raced into the top corner of Buffon’s goal. But Chelsea’s lack of defensive solidity allowed Juventus back into the match in the 38th minute.
When Vidal took possession 30m out, he should have been closed down by the Chelsea rearguard. Instead they allowed the midfielder to advance to the edge of the area and drill a low strike past Cech.
Juventus, who are back in the Champions League after a three-year absence, were unbeaten in their last 42 Serie A matches and they showed the spirit that characterised that epic run to snatch a dramatic equaliser in the 80th minute.
Meanwhile, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Bayern Munich cast aside bitter memories of
PICTURE: REUTERS their Champions League final defeat in May to begin the new campaign with a 2-1 victory over Valencia last night.
Schweinsteiger fired Bayern into the lead with a deflected shot in the 38th minute, much to the delight of the crowd of 68 000 in Munich. Midfielder Toni Kroos added a second when he scored with a 20m drive in the 76th minute.
Defensive-minded Valencia, in their first encounter with Bayern since losing to the Germans in the 2001 Champions League final, cut the deficit with a header from Nelson Valdez in stoppage time.
In Manchester, Michael Carrick’s first Champions League goal in three years gave Manchester United an unconvincing 1-0 victory over Galatasaray at Old Trafford yesterday.
But United could not build on their seveth-minute lead and Galatasaray, appearing in the Champions League for the first time in six years, were unlucky not to leave with a point after having struck the woodwork three times.
Nani made United work harder for their win when keeper Fernando Muslera saved the Portuguese winger’s feeble 53rd-minute penalty following a foul on Brazilian defender Rafael.
Lionel Messi struck twice to secure a 3-2 comeback win for Barcelona at home to Spartak Moscow in their Group G opening match.
Barca were flirting with a first home defeat in 17 European outings when Spartak took a shock 2-1 lead in the 59th minute at the Nou Camp, before Messi, the top scorer in the competition for the last four seasons, levelled the scores 19 minutes before the end of the match.
The World Player of the Year was set up by Cristian Tello, scorer of the home side’s 14th-minute opener, and then nodded in the winner in the 80th minute.
The Catalonian club, who are bidding for a third European crown in five years, ensured a winning debut in the competition for new coach Tito Vilanova. – Sapa-AFP-Reuters