Parma deny Juventus double

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PARMA (Italy), May 11: Parma ended Juventus’s hopes of an Italian league and cup double after a 1-0 win in the second leg of the Italian Cup final Friday gave them victory on the away goals rule.

Juventus had won the first-leg in Turin 2-1 but the teams were level on aggregate after just three minutes when Brazilian Junior put Parma ahead with a scuffed shot which rolled past unsighted Juve goalkeeper Fabian Carini.

Juve coach Marcello Lippi, who won the double during his first season with Juventus in 1995, rested many of his key players.

But even after introducing Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet after the break the Turin side were unable to break down a disciplined Parma defence.

Lippi’s side won the Serie A title Sunday.

Juve have played their second string throughout the Cup and after Sunday’s celebrations and with World Cup training camps on the horizon, Lippi opted to give his reserves a chance to take their share of the season’s glory.

But he remained disappointed not to become the first coach to win the Italian double twice.

Having flirted with relegation this season Parma were clearly keen to end the campaign with silverware and it showed from the outset.

Junior’s goal was fortunate, his scuffed shot bouncing through a crowded penalty area and past Juventus goalkeeper Fabian Carini but Parma could have taken a more comfortable lead in to the break.

Uruguay World Cup ‘keeper Carini was forced into a fine save just five minutes after the goal, doing well to keep out a header from Argentine Nestor Sensini.

After Nicola Amoruso had seen an effort fly just over the bar for Juventus, Carini was in action again, tipping a shot from Marco Di Vaio round the post after a fine solo run from the Parma striker.

Three minutes before the break Di Vaio had another chance but blasted over the bar after a fine break down the left by the lively Junior.

Del Piero replaced defender Alessandro Birindelli at the break, a clear signal that Lippi wanted to see more action from his forwards. The introduction of Trezeguet and Chile’s Marcelo Salas early in the second half gave the Turin side an impressive front line.—Reuters

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