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Lucky Juventus beat Siena 1-0
Updated: 2011-09-19 10:20
(Xinhua)
Juventus's Alessandro Matri (L) celebrates with his teammates Mirko Vucinic (C) and Stephan Lichtsteiner after scoring against Siena during their Italian Serie A soccer match at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Siena Sept 18, 2011. Juventus won the match 1-0. [Photo/Agencies]
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Allesandro Matri scored the winner after the break to help Juventus chalk up two wins from as many games.
Siena went extremely close on 37 minutes, as Franco Brienza ran on to a long Gaetano D'Agostino ball over the top and only his disappointing first touch allowed Barzagli to get a sliding tackle in.
After the restart Mirko Vucinic was unable to get on the end of an Emanuele Giaccherini cross.
Juventus finally broke the deadlock in 54th minute with a well-worked move. Giaccherini trapped a long Simone Pepe cross-field pass to set up Vucinic, who feinted a shot, but instead pulled back for Alessandro Matri's finish from seven yards. Matri managed to steer the ball in despite two men on the Siena line.
Chiellini went off with an injury, while Brkic punched a Pirlo free kick out from under the bar.
Siena had a fantastic opportunity to equalize, as a free kick was whipped in for the head of Emanuele Calaio', which beat Buffon to crack the crossbar.
Arturo Vidal had a good chance to put the game beyond doubt, but ballooned over the bar from close range after Alessandro Del Piero's inspired assist.
Juventus head coach Antonio Conte insisted that it is still "too early" to talk about his side's chance to win the Scudetto.
The Bianconeri are top of the table following a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Siena on Sunday.
"It was not an easy game, which I knew would be the case," the coach was quoted by Sky Sport Italia as saying.
"Siena are organized, close down well and go on the counter. We did well to control the tempo, have patience and strike at the right moment.
"It was a well-worked goal with Emanuele Giaccherini, Mirko Vucinic and Alessandro Matri combining to score. The victory was deserved."
As to Juventus' chance to win the title, Conte said:"It is too early to talk about these things. We have a lot of work to do."
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