Juventus 2 : 1 Lazio - Super-sub Del Piero nets winner

Posted Wednesday, April 11, 2012 by PA

Alessandro Del Piero came off the bench to net the decisive goal as Juventus regained top spot in Serie A with a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Champions League hopefuls Lazio.

The unbeaten Turin outfit found themselves toppled at the summit by AC Milan on Tuesday night, the Rossoneri winning 1-0 at Chievo, but Simone Pepe set them on their way with the opening goal after half an hour.

Stefano Mauri equalised for the visitors on the stroke of half-time but Del Piero grabbed an 82nd-minute winner with a superb free-kick to lift Antonio Conte's side a point above Milan with six games left.

Libor Kozak was sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence to add to Lazio's misery.

Juve started well, but Arturo Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella were both off target with their shots after getting themselves into good positions.

Quagliarella was then denied by Federico Marchetti, with Pepe also firing wide after finding himself through one on one with the Lazio goalkeeper.

The Bianconeri deservedly made the breakthrough after 30 minutes, lashing a half-volley into the bottom-right corner from Andrea Pirlo's pass.

Vidal almost doubled his side's advantage straight away but his shot was tipped over the bar by Marchetti.

Third-placed Lazio had offered little in attack but just before the interval they were level, Mauri heading home Lionel Scaloni's perfect cross from the right.

Juve started the second half full of intent, Mirko Vucinic sending a left-footed drive over the bar and Claudio Marchisio and Vidal shooting wide.

Del Piero was introduced in place of Vucinic after 73 minutes and wasted no time making his presence felt, testing Marchetti from outside the box two minutes later.

And, after 82 minutes, he produced the winner, despatching a superb free-kick into the top-right corner from 25 yards.

Lazio substitute Hernanes blasted wide in stoppage time, but the evening ended on a sour note for the visitors as fellow substitute Kozak was sent off for a second bookable offence after fouling the lively Del Piero.