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Juventus 1 - Verona 2

Monday May 9 2016

Luca Toni retired by scoring a cheeky Panenka penalty as Verona stunned Scudetto-winners Juventus 2-1.

 

This remarkable result ends the Juve run of 25 wins and a draw in 26 rounds, since their last defeat to Sassuolo on October 28.

 

The Bianconeri had already won the Scudetto and Hellas were doomed to Serie B, but they were still eager to put up a fine show for the home fans. Above all, this was Toni’s farewell match, as he will hang up his boots ahead of his 39th birthday on May 26.

 

Paul Pogba, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Mario Mandzukic and Hernanes were suspended, Gigi Buffon rested, Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira and Martin Caceres injured.

 

Federico Viviani tested Neto from distance and Hellas were impressive, putting in a series of crosses for Toni to knock down.

 

Simone Zaza was once again too enthusiastic in the tackle and got himself booked, while Juan Cuadrado and Viviani got into a scuffle.

 

Verona had more of the ball in the first half and the best chance, as Luca Siligardi rolled across from the left for Toni only for the finish to hit the near post from six yards.

 

Zaza’s effort was charged down and Cuadrado ballooned the follow-up over. Paulo Dybala surged past Filip Helander and his angled drive shaved a coat of paint off the far upright.

 

The referee awarded a very soft penalty for Alex Sandro’s coming together with Eros Pisano. Toni stepped up and marked his final match with a first – he took a Panenka-style spot-kick, chipping it over Neto to send the Bentegodi crowd wild. It was his 157th Serie A goal in 344 games.

 

Hellas remained aggressive after the break and doubled their lead with a classic counter-attack. Artur Ionita’s pass with the outside of the boot was not cut out by Leonardo Bonucci, so Viviani was able to control and smash into the roof of the net. Neto was left rooted to the spot.

 

No Serie A side had managed to score two past Juve since Carpi in December 2015.

 

Urby Emanuelson’s volley flashed wide, but Zaza thought he’d pulled one back when running on to a Kwadwo Asamoah through ball until Pierluigi Gollini palmed it on to the base of the near post.

 

Neto had his gloves stung by Ionita at the near stick to deny a third, while Gollini palmed a Dybala free kick over the bar. Zaza’s glancing header was in the back of the net, but only after he was flagged offside.

 

Giorgio Chiellini made his comeback after a muscular injury and Toni was given one final standing ovation as he left the Serie A pitch for the last time.

 

In stoppages, Alex Sandro completed a miserable night for Juventus by getting himself sent off. The wing-back was already booked when he lunged into a late studs-up tackle.

 

With the final kick of the game, Helander shoved Zaza for a penalty which Dybala coolly converted to at least give the Bianconeri a consolation goal.

 

Verona: Gollini; Pisano, Bianchetti, Helander, Emanuelson; Viviani, Marrone (Greco 80); Wszolek, Ionita, Siligardi (Romulo 64); Toni (Gomez Taleb 85)

 

Juventus: Neto; Barzagli (Chiellini 72), Bonucci, Rugani; Cuadrado, Sturaro (Pereyra 62), Lemina, Asamoah (Padoin 71), Alex Sandro; Dybala, Zaza

 

Goals: Toni pen 43 (V), Viviani 55 (V), Dybala pen 95 (J)

 

Ref: Maresca

 

Sent off: Alex Sandro 92 (J)

 

Source: football italia

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