2-1 is not a bad result to juve, btw smart move from alex

2-1 loss though

Empoli will take a 2-1 lead to Turin after they beat a weakened Juventus side at the Stadio Castellani with Sergio Almiron seeing red.

Claudio Ranieri rested a host of star names, including goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, but he did opt to start captain Alessandro Del Piero.

Under-fire midfielders Almiron and Tiago Mendes were determined to impress and Raffaele Palladino was handed a start as Vincenzo Iaquinta and David Trezeguet sat out.

The home side looked more motivated and tested Bianconeri stand-in ‘keeper Belardi after just three minutes with a rasping long drive that the former Reggina shot-stopper had to push away for a corner.

It was Azzurrini striker Pozzi who put the Tuscans ahead with a precise header from a Luca Antonini cross after Juve-owned starlet Sebastian Giovinco’s incisive ball into the box.

Del Piero showed a flash of magic but was superbly denied twice by Davide Bassi in the Empoli goal.

Belardi was again called upon to block a Pozzi effort after Ighli Vannucci floated a free-kick into the danger area shortly before half-time.

Just five minutes into the second period, it was 2-0 to Empoli as Ignazio Abate cut into the box and fired past Belardi.

The Old Lady’s Cup run was in jeopardy and Almiron didn’t help the cause when he was booked for a foul on Giovinco and dismissed for vehement protests.

Ranieri threw on Iaquinta and it had the desired effect as the ex-Udinese man made it 2-1 in the 81st minute and extended Juve a lifeline.

It could have been even better for the Cadetti champions had referee Stefano Farina seen an apparent Empoli handball in the box late on and Hasan Salihamizic was denied in the dying seconds by Bassi, but Ranieri will breathe a sigh of relief.

The return leg in Turin is on January 16.


Empoli: Bassi; Abate, Marianini (Marzoratti 70), Raggi, Pratali; Vanigli, Marchisio, Antonini, Vannucchi Giovinco (Moro 87); Pozzi (Volpato 45)

Juventus: Belardi; Birindelli, Criscito, Legrottaglie, Grygera (Molinaro 62); Almiron, Salihamidzic, Tiago, Marchionni (Nocerino 64); Del Piero, Palladino (Iaquinta 62)