Italian giants stun holders in first leg of Champions League semifinal
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts in dismay after fluffing a scoring chance during the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal against Juventus at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy, on Tuesday. Juve won 2-1. (Photo: AP)
Turin (Italy): Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez struck a goal apiece as Juventus boosted their Champions League final chances with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid in their first leg semifinal on Tuesday. Morata, who moved from Real to Juventus last summer, tapped home the rebound from a Tevez strike on eight minutes to send Juventus Stadium into raptures.
The hosts were pegged back just before the half-hour thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 76th goal in the competition, a simple header that beat Gianluigi Buffon from close range.
But the Turin giants were back in front when Tevez beat Iker Casillas from the penalty spot on 57 minutes after he was felled in the area. Real host Juventus on May 13 when they will look to make their precious away goal count as they bid to secure a second consecutive final.
However Juve, who last appeared in the last four in 2003 when they were beaten by AC Milan in the final, will feel confident of causing an upset against the record 10-time and defending champions. Juve raced out of the traps and after just eight minutes Morata sent the stadium wild with a simple tap-in after Casillas pushed Tevez’s drive into his path at the back post.
Given he spent several years at the Santiago Bernabeu, claiming a winners’ medal from last year’s competition, Morata kept his celebrations to himself. It was the dream start for the hosts and for the first 26 minutes Real struggled to find their rhythm. The visitors’ best chance of the game thus far was a 30-metre piledriver from Toni Kroos that Gianluigi Buffon pushed to safety.
However a lapse of concentration from Juve proved costly, James Rodriguez doing great while under pressure to the right of goal to lob over a cross which found Ronaldo somehow unmarked for a 27th minute equaliser. The goal literally silenced the crowd, but the Bianconeri were far from beaten.
Juve took back control after the half hour, Pirlo stopping a Real counter to help set up Tevez for Claudio Marchisio to test Casillas with a daisycutter from 20 metres that shaved the upright.
( Source : AFP )
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