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Juve - Torino Classics: Maresca's got the bull by the horns
Throughout the day, we'll be updating the page with Derby della Mole highlights that bring back the fondest and most painful of memories, for fans not just of the Turinese sides, but of Serie A in general. Of what Italian football was, of what it is, of the flavour it needs to preserve if it wants to preserve its identity in the future.
Maresca's got the bull by the horns
TORINO-JUVENTUS 2-2, 2001/2002 Serie A Season, Return Leg
GOALS: 10' Trezeguet, 64' Ferrante, 80' Cauet and 89' Maresca.
TORINO: Bucci; Galante, Fattori, Delli Carri; Comotto, Asta (De Ascentis), Scarchilli (Maspero), Vergassola, Mezzano; Ferrante (Cauet), C.Lucarelli. Coach:Camolese.
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Thuram, Ferrara, Iuliano, Pessotto (Zenoni); Zambrotta (Tacchinardi), Conte, Davids (Maresca); Nedved; Del Piero, Trezeguet. Coach: Lippi.
This time, the shoe was definitely on the other sock. Juventus were involved in a tough fight for the title with Inter and couldn’t afford to drop any points. Yet after taking the lead through David Trezeguet, the Bianconeri found themselves on the receiving end of another Granata comeback.
Torino dominated, testing Buffon with a number of long rangers before snatching the equaliser thanks to the reliable Ferrante. Ten minutes from time, Ricky Maspero waved his magic wand once again, this time providing a stunning pass which Cristiano Lucarelli couldn’t quite match with his run. Undeterred, the Livornese legend was still able to cross to an unmarked Benoit Cauet at the far post. Torino were ahead!
Angry beyond belief, Juventus threw themselves at Luca Bucci’s goal, the keeper saved by his crossbar on a Ciro Ferrara header and forced into a miraculous save off a close-ranmge effort from Cristian Zenoni. Could Torino hold on?
Just as things looked to be over for Juventus, they were rescued by the unlikeliest of saviours. One minute from time, Lilian Thuram heaved a hopeful cross onto the head of a 21-year-old sub, who was standing a couple of yards behind the penalty spot. That player’s name was Enzo Maresca, and he somehow drove his effort past Bucci for the stunning equalizer.
As if that wasn’t enough, Maresca decided to parody Torino by wheeling away with hands on his head and his index fingers sticking it out, clearly imitating a bull, a celebration used by Marco Ferrante.
That didn’t go down too well, with Maresca forced to beat a retreat to the changing rooms at the final whistle, with Granata players and fans after his blood. The public was just as indignant, though Juventus got the last laugh, going on to snatch the title from underneath Inter’s noses on that famous 5th May, breaking Nerazzurri hearts forever.
