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Juventus overpower AS Roma 4-1 in Serie A

JUVENTUS routed AS Roma 4-1 to cement its grip on second place in the Serie A yesterday.

Vincenzo Iaquinta, who scored twice, gave Juventus the lead in the 34th minute. Simone Loria equalized three minutes after the break but Iaquinta's goal in the 55th put Juventus ahead for good. Olof Mellberg and Pavel Nedved sealed the victory.

The win put Juventus four points behind leader Inter Milan, which has 66 points ahead of today's match against Reggina. AC Milan was third on 54.

"I've said it doesn't make sense to think about others, we have to think about what we're doing," Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri said. "All we can do is give our best. I said at the start of the season that Inter was overwhelming favorite and we can't worry too much about what they are doing.

"Juventus is a team that always gives its best and has a winning mentality and the new players must know this. But we are growing and developing."

Roma was sixth overall with 46, two points behind Genoa, which occupies the fourth Champions League spot.

"I'm disappointed with the result, especially for the boys because they gave it their all," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. "This Juventus had something more, a little extra. We need to get our heads right and do some good training.

"We need a little bit more anger, a bit more determination to get to the position we want to be in. Tonight was a bad loss."

Earlier, Rome's other side Lazio lost 1-0 away to Catania, which moved up to 11th thanks to Michele Paolucci's strike.

Juve and Roma played conservatively from the start, with Jeremy Menez getting the first chance for Roma in the 18th. John Arne Riise raced down the left and pulled the ball back, but returning defender Giorgio Chiellini was able to block Menez's shot.

Sebastien Giovinco was given another start and formed a trio in attack alongside Iaquinta and Alessandro Del Piero. His pass set up Iaquinta for the opening goal, releasing the World Cup winner to round Loria and fire low past goalkeeper Doni.

Loria equalized when he hooked in Menez's low corner, but Juventus kept their rhythm and Iaquinta could rise above Philippe Mexes to head his second from Zdenek Grygera's cross.

Riise had to react in the 63rd, blocking Del Piero's shot on the line, but Juventus extended its lead shortly afterward.

Mellberg headed in Del Piero's corner in the 68th and six minutes later Nedved fired in a long-range volley to seal the result.





 

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