Date:25/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/25/stories/2006082508962000.htm

Sport - Football

Del Piero leads Juventus into third round

Rome: Alessandro Del Piero scored 15 seconds after entering the match and gave Juventus a 2-1 victory over Cesena in the second round of the Italian Cup football championship.

Cesena led on Federico Balzaretti's own-goal 23 minutes in and newly signed Juventus forward Valeri Bojinov equalised in the 45th. Del Piero's goal in the 74th minute came in his first official action since Italy's World Cup victory last month.

Following a Pavel Nedved corner kick, the Juventus captain pounded in a rebound of a David Trezeguet header.

While the top clubs have byes, Juventus was forced to play the opening rounds as a result of its involvement in the Italian match-fixing scandal, which resulted in its relegation to Serie `B'.

Juventus will face Napoli, which beat Ascoli 1-0 in extra time, in the third round on Sunday. Second-division Genoa upset Fiorentina 1-0 on a 77th-minute goal by Giuseppe Greco.

Luca Toni, last season's Serie `A' scoring leader, did not play for Fiorentina.

Lazio beat Monza 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw and Udinese topped Albinoleffe 2-1 on Giampiero Pinzi's goal six minutes into extra time.

Bologna defeated Cavese 2-0 on a pair of goals by Claudio Bellucci, who also scored in the first round. Bologna will next meet Sampdoria, a 2-1 winner over Rimini. . — AP