By Anna Italia
                                              PARMA     2  -  2 FC JUVENTUS
                                                         43' A. Gasbarroni (pen)   75' Nicola Legrottaglie
                                                         57' A. Pisanu                    81' Vincenzo Iaquinta

SUBSTITUTIONS:         69' Gasbarroni out, Dessena in          46' Del Piero out, Iaquinta in
                                      77' Pisanu out, Morfeo in                    58' Nocerino out, Tiago in
                                      88' Reginaldo out, Matteini in             64 Grygera out, Salihamidzic in

What more excitement could we ask from the 12th Round of the Serie A Match Parma - Juventus?  Both teams were coming from a draw wanting to get a victory, and again, both collect another draw. Interestingly, a draw that has a defeat tone for Parma while for Juve a victory tone.

The challenge was for Juventus Coach Claudio Ranieri to win the match to shorten the distance with FC Inter.  A victory meant reaching 24 points, only 1 point away from Inter. While Parma's challenge was to win or get a draw against the almighty Juventus.  Therefore, Juventus Coach Ranieri failed the challenge, while Parma Coach Di Carlo accomplished the challenge. Question is, do they really reached their goals?

Let's see, Parma  took the lead up to the 74th minute beating Juventus 2 -0. This was a fabulous result for Parma. Yet, even when winning, the point is to keep the lead until the end of the match or the opposite team might beat you. Here is where Parma might consider a failure for allowing Juventus to equalize the match in the last 15 minutes.  Same way, here is where Juventus might consider a victory overcoming the defeat and equalizing the match avoiding an embarrassing defeat.

Following the accidental death of Lazio fan, 26-year-old Gabriele Sandi, after an accidental police shooting near Arezzo this morning, the match started with a 10 minute delay as a sign of respect.
                     
Although on paper, Juventus was the winner, truth is that Parma dominated the match in the first half.

Incredibly, in the 41st minute, Referee Gabriele Gava grants a penalty kick to Parma after Reginaldo was brought down by Cristiano Zanetti in the box. Midfielder Andrea Gasbarroni (photo) takes the penalty spot,  get set to shine and shoots... GOOOAL.  Gasbarroni opened the score with a penalty kick that Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon could not stop, though he did his best stretching his right hand.  Parma 1 - 0 FC Juventus.

What a cold shower for Juventus!  Party time for Parma fans in the Tardini Stadium!

So, what could Juve Coach do to change the dynamics of the match in the second half?  Fact is that even in the beginning of the second half, Parma continued to dominate.

In the 46th minute, Juve Coach Ranieri substitutes Alessandro Del Piero for Vincenzo Iaquinta.

In the 58th minute, a pass from Gasbarroni to  midfielder Andrea Pisanu scored the second goal!  Parma 2 - 0 FC Juventus.  The fall of the giant!  Juve was falling down!

Here there are two options: Either Parma changes tactics and reinforce the defense to keep the lead or Juventus make changes for a more aggressive tactic.  Something has to be done. It is more likely a win win for Parma.

Parma midfielder Andrea Gasbarroni proves to be the man of the match.  He shows a "KAKA style" solo run. Gasbarroni passing three Juve players sends a powerful shot but this time Goalkeeper Giggi Buffon stopped the ball.

Rightly on the dot, Juve coach substitutes midfielder Nocerino for young Portuguese Tiago in the 58th minute.

Boy, what a clever substitution!

Juve just reacted with a clear opportunity to goal in the 59th minute with Mauro Camoranesi. Yet... goalkeeper Bucci saves.

In the 69th minute, Parma coach substitutes midfielder Gasbarroni for Dessena.

In the 75th minute, thanks to Tiago's free kick, Nicola Legrottaglie sends a shot into the far corner of the net and there is JUVE's honor goal!   Parma 2 - 1 Juventus.

For all Tiago fans, including my blog commentators Ricardo15 and Daniel, would be happy that Tiago not only got few minutes to play, but made the assist for the goal. I  could almost Tiago's saying "I'll show you" to Coach Ranieri, and boy did he!

Now, it is a survival reaction. Either Parma keeps the lead or Juve might equalize the match...

The bad note is the Morfeo - Chiellini situation. After Chiellini wins a ball with a tackle on Domenico Morfeo, Morfeo reacted by grasping Chiellini's face. Despite Chiellini's not reacting to this violent move from Morfeo, Referee Grava shows the red card to both players. 

Yet, the moment of redemption for Juventus arrives in the 81st minute with IAQUINTA.  A combination between Salihamidzic and Trezeguet allows Iaquinta to shoot at the far post and equalize the match.  Parma 2 - 2 Juventus. The revival of the giant! The dismay of Parma!

To increase tension, Referee Grava disallows a goal from Vincenzo Iaquinta after a close-range header because Referee Gava believes there was a push on a Parma defender.  What a luck!

In the overall, I might say, that the one smiling is Juve Coach Ranieri for showing the right character and making the right substitutions.  Tiago and Iaquinta proved to be the key for Juve to obtain the draw from an embarrassing defeat.

Parma Coach Domenico Di Carlo move to substitute Gasbarroni when Parma was leading 2 -0, proved a wrong decision at the the wrong time. 

... Time to prepare  my lunch...  Spaghetti all'aglio, olio e pepperoncino. Will make a toast for JUVE's draw. Hopefully, Del Piero will score next time... gee, I miss his goals!

Photo credits: juventus.it
Photo credit Gasbarroni: fcparma.it

LINE UPS

Italian Football League Serie A Tim 2007 - 2008 - Week 12 Italian Soccer Serie A
Sunday, November 11 2007
Parma - FC Juventus
Tardini Stadium

Referee: Gabriele Gava
Assistants: Cristiano Copelli and  Alessandro Stagnoli
                   Fourth Official:  Nicola Pierpaoli

Goals: Gasbarroni (pen) 42 (P), Pisanu 57 (P), Legrottaglie 75 (J), Iaquinta 81 (J)

PARMA

Goalkeeper: Luca Bucci
Defenders: Ferdinand Coly, Falcone, Paolo Castellini, Marco Rossi, 
Midfielders: Andrea Pisanu (Morfeo 77), Stefano Morrone, Luca Cigarini, Andrea Gasbarroni (Dessena 69),
Forwards: Ferreira Da Silva Reginaldo (Matteini 88), Bernardo Corradi

Coach: Domenico Di Carlo

JUVENTUS

Goalkeeper: Gigi Buffon
Defenders: Grygera (Salihamidzic 64), Nicola Legrottaglie, Giorgio Chiellini, Criscito,
Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi, Nocerino (Tiago 58), Cristiano Zanetti,
Forwards: Raffaele Palladino, David Trezeguet, Alessandro Del Piero (Iaquinta 46)

Coach: Claudio Ranieri

Sent Off; Morfeo 77 (P), Chiellini 77 (J), Coly 91 (P)