Amauri stars as Hoops suffer the Italian job

JUVENTUS lived up to all the usual stereotypes at Tallaght Stadium last night, leaving Dublin with two away goals and the tie all but settled.

All around the park, their Italian contingent had the know-how and work ethic to stem any momentum Shamrock Rovers could build. Their defenders were rarely tested but when they were, they applied the appropriate amounts of cynicism and steel.

And up front, where the Old Lady had €47m to invest in flair, where else to look, but to some Brazilians. And it was Diego and two-goal Amauri who did the damage in silencing the 6,039 strong crowd within the opening three minutes.

Amauri’s second killed the game midway through the second half, leaving no room for romance as the Hoops battled gamely to preserve their dream.

“Losing the goal didn’t help us settle into the game,” Rovers boss Michael O’Neill said.

“I did fear how we would react to that. Our lads are young, part-time players playing against players of that calibre. They need to settle into the game to get belief in themselves and we never got that.

“I’m very proud of my players’ effort and commitment. There was a lot of character shown There is always a sense of disappointment, we can’t get away from the fact that we lost.”

Rovers were behind before they knew it. Amauri took Claudio Marchisio’s pass at his feet and showed a slick turn of pace in playing a neat one-two with Diego.

With Dan Murray left for dead, Alan Mannus narrowed the angle only for Amauri calmly lift the ball over him and let it drift home despite Murray’s scrambling effort.

As if Rovers didn’t have enough to do, they now had to chase the game. After a week of talking about keeping it tight, any gameplan went out the window and for a period they didn’t know how to respond, despite Murray going close.

James Chambers’ corner found his captain unmarked at the back post, but Davide Lanzafame got to him before he could shoot.

It was a rare sight of the opposition half and with Diego looking dangerous, Juventus looked to take advantage of their superior movement and technique as Simone Pepe headed the Brazilian’s cross wide.

The Italians’ superior organisation and work ethic were making it difficult for Rovers to keep the ball, but their fans played their part in riling the visitors, throwing a second ball on to the pitch and stopping play.

Robert Bayly ignored protocol and instead of giving the ball back from the throw in, decided to drive goalwards. He fed Chris Turner who was cleaned out by Pepe, who in turn was booked.

Incensed, the Juventus players surrounded Bayly as both sets of players went head to head. It got the blood boiling and Aidan Price went close with a header from another dangerous Chambers corner.

Rovers looked the more energetic after the interval and were inches away from an equaliser. Murray directed Chambers’ free to Stewart’s feet and from his cross the ex-Cork City defender’s glanced header drifted just past the post.

For all Rovers’ momentum, they couldn’t hurt Juve in the same way and Amauri ghosted behind the home defence and beat Mannus only for his effort to bounce back off the post.

The second did come as the ex-Palermo striker beat Sives to meet Marco Motta’s floated cross with a firm downward header that went in off the post.

Amauri and substitute Alessandro Del Piero went close to a third, but Rovers escaped with just the two and were sung off the pitch as they look towards salvaging pride in the second leg in Modena.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Sives, Murray, Price, Stevens; Chambers (Kavanagh 77), Rice (Dennehy 66), Turner, Bayly (Bradley 93), Stewart; Twigg.

JUVENTUS: Storari; Motta, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Ceglie; Lanzafame (Martinez 52), Sissoko, Marchisio (Ekdal 89), Pepe; Amauri, Diego (Del Piero 82).

Referee: D Fernandez Borbalan (Spain).