Juventus beat Cesena to return to top

05 Dec, 2011

Juventus went back to the top of Serie A after a 2-0 victory over Cesena on Sunday. Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal, from the penalty spot, scored the goals that restored the Old Lady of Turin's two-point lead over AC Milan and Udinese. But the match was not without incident and controversy, not least the dismissal of Cesena goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli.
Juve dominated possession in the first half but managed only two shots on target, the best effort being from an angle by Mirko Vucinic that Antonioli nontheless saved comfortably.
Vucinic had another effort after the break that Antonioli parried, with Simone Pepe knocking the follow-up straight into the goalkeeper's arms.
Pepe then headed a great chance wide after meeting a cross from the left by Giorgio Chiellini.
Juve lost substitute and club captain Alessandro Del Piero after a clash with Marco Rossi that left him bloodied and carried off on a stretcher. The hosts got the breakthrough their persistence, if not their effectiveness, deserved 17 minutes from time.
Marchisio played a one-two with Vidal and then turned and shot home smartly from the edge of the box. Any chance of a Cesena comeback was wiped out with the dismissal of Antonioli in the most incredible circumstances.

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