Roma 1–1 Juventus: Keita rescues point for 10-man Giallorossi

Date: 2nd March 2015 at 11:18pm
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The Malian stand-in captain rallied to level the score 12 minutes from time and prevent the Bianconeri from extending their nine point lead at the top.

Roma’s 10 men found the resolve to earn a 1–1 draw against Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday night in Serie A, courtesy of a Seydou Keita header after Carlos Tevez had put the visitors ahead with a beautifully curled-in free-kick.

The match began in a much more cagey fashion than the explosive 3–2 encounter had in October. Both teams worked hard to deny space to their opponents and remained defensively solid.

Roma looked to keep hold of the ball and build up patiently during the first half, but struggled to create opportunities, despite having almost twice as much of the possession.

Their most promising moment of the first half came when Jose Holebas crossed from deep to find Keita, but the 35-year-old fluffed his control as the ball bounced off his chest and into Buffon’s grateful grasp.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men looked the more likely to break the deadlock. Arturo Vidal fired wide with a volley, after a Stephan Lichtsteiner run into the box caused chaos in the Giallorossi defence and prompted a hasty clearance. Carlos Tevez also had a shot blocked wide from the edge of the area on the right.

But the best chance for the visitors before the break was almost a gift from Kostas Manolas. The young Greek was inches from scoring at the wrong end, with his side-footed clearance whistling past Morgan De Sanctis’ as he looked to prevent Roberto Pereyra’s cross from finding Alvaro Morata.

The game took a significant turn 18 minutes into the second half though, when Torosidis received his marching orders with a second booking after clipping the heels of Vidal as the Chilean just outside the penalty area.

Juventus wasted no time in capitalising on their advantage, as Tevez sublimely curled the ball into the top left corner from the resulting free kick to put the visitors ahead and send the away fans into raptures, while a deathly silence fell over the rest of the Olimpico.

A response from the hosts seemed unlikely, but Gianluigi Buffon was finally tested on 72 minute when Manolas jumped highest to meet Alessandro Florenzi’s free-kick.

Losing a man and a goal appeared to have woken up the Giallorossi, whose 10 men pushed hard for an equaliser.

Keita who had taken the armband from the substituted Francesco Totti, refused to accept his side’s fate and made the difference when he met another Florenzi free-kick at the far post and saw his header bundle over the line after hitting Claudio Marchisio on the way.

Rudi Garcia’s men suddenly looked like taking all three points from a shell shocked Juventus, but their efforts came too late as the game ended 1–1.

 

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