Juventus Beat Roma To Extend 100% Start

Source: thewillnigeria.com

Leonardo Bonucci's spectacular late volley gave Juventus victory in a fiery encounter with title rivals Roma.

Carlos Tevez's controversial penalty was cancelled out by Roma's Francesco Totti from the spot.

Juan Iturbe gave Roma the lead but another contentious Tevez penalty drew Juve level before half-time.

With five minutes remaining, centre-back Bonucci fired the winner from the edge of the area before Alvaro Morata and Kostas Manolas were sent off.

Morata's full-blooded challenge infuriated Manolas and the Roma defender responded by pushing the Spanish striker twice before shoving his head into Morata's.

An ugly melee followed before referee Gianluca Rocchi showed both players a red card.

It was an unsavoury end to a thrilling but tempestuous encounter between two sides who had won all five of their opening Serie A matches this season.

At times, Rocchi struggled to keep the match under control as he booked four players from champions Juve and three from runners-up Roma.

The first major controversy followed his decision to award Juve a penalty after initially signalling a free-kick when Maicon handled Andrea Pirlo's free-kick on the edge of the area.

As Tevez stroked Juve ahead from the spot, Roma manager Rudi Garcia was sent to the stands for protesting.

Roma were soon awarded a spot-kick of their own when Stephan Lichtsteiner bundled over Totti at a corner.

Totti, who became the oldest Champions League scorer at 38 years and three days against Manchester City in midweek, picked himself up to equalise.

Roma took the lead when former Arsenal forward Gervinho cut inside from the left flank and slid a pass into the path of Iturbe. The Argentine lashed a first-time effort past Gianluigi Buffon.

A similar run from Gervinho almost brought a third goal for Roma but his right-footed shot curled over the corner of the bar and post.

Juve equalised in first-half stoppage time when Rocchi pointed to the spot for Miralem Pjanic's trip on Juve midfielder Paul Pogba.

With replays again suggesting the infringement may have taken place outside the area, Tevez wrong-footed goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski.

The second half was a more cagey affair with both sides seemingly reluctant to risk losing such a crucial encounter.

Juve were marginally the more offensive and were unfortunate when substitute Morata rose to head a Lichtsteiner cross on to the crossbar.

Then came the winner from an unlikely source.
Roma cleared a corner as far as the edge of the box where Bonucci, showing immaculate technique, drilled a volley through a crowd of players into the bottom corner of Skorupski's net.

BBC SPORT