Juventus snatch late victory at Cagliari

Giorgio Chiellini's last-minute header gave Juventus an extraordinary 3-2 win at Cagliari in their second game back in Serie A yesterday afternoon.

Juve's Jonathan Zebina and Cagliari's Cristiano Del Grosso were sent off in a fiery encounter in Sardinia where the home side equalised twice with debatable penalties before defender Chiellini nodded in Mauro Camoranesi's free-kick.

Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani, French winger Ludovic Giuly and striker Francesco Totti scored in Roma's 3-0 win over Siena while promoted Napoli triumphed 5-0 at Udinese.

Goals were again plentiful on a generally enthralling day of action in Italy with Palermo winning 4-2 at Livorno, who were battered 5-1 by Juventus last weekend.

Juve failed to carry that form into the first half at Cagliari with the home side arguably threatening more without really testing keeper Gianluigi Buffon.

However, the second half was packed with incidents after David Trezeguet gave Juventus a fortunate lead when the ball ricocheted off team-mate Camoranesi and ran into his path, enabling him to score.

Cagliari were almost immediately awarded a penalty when substitute defender Nicola Legrottaglie was adjudged to have held back Alessandro Matri.

Buffon got a hand to Pasquale Foggia's spot kick but the ball rolled over the line.

The referee then gave the Sardinians another spot kick but after furious Juve protests the linesman indicated that Chiellini's tackle had been clean and the penalty was annulled.

Buffon then pulled off a remarkable save from Paolo Bianco before Alessandro Del Piero put Juve ahead again when he tapped home a Camoranesi lob which may have gone in anyway.

Cagliari's Foggia equalised with another penalty nine minutes from time when Zebina was penalised for a foul and the French defender was so incensed he talked himself into a red card.

Del Grosso made it 10 against 10 when he was dismissed for a second booking and Juve finally settled a thrilling game to top the table alongside Roma with two wins from two.

Juve's joy was slightly tempered by TV footage showing Zebina threatening a steward after being sent off.

"I hadn't seen that. It is a very ugly scene," coach Claudio Ranieri said.

Promoted Napoli, who lost at home to Cagliari on the opening day, romped to a stunning win at Udinese.

Striker Marcelo Zalayeta, a recent signing from Juventus, got off the mark for his new club on 16 minutes before Maurizio Domizzi turned in following a corner which Udinese failed to clear.

Ezequiel Lavezzi cut inside and blasted in to make it three in the second half before dreadful defending from a deflated Udinese led to Zalayeta's second and Roberto Sosa scoring the fifth.

Italy midfielder Aquilani curled home an effort which went in off the bar in the 17th minute to give Roma the lead but Siena's former Arsenal keeper Alex Manninger should probably have done better.

Giuly made the game safe and gave Roma two wins from two when the ball ran kindly for him to score with eight minutes to go.

Roma striker Francesco Totti netted late on having been presented with the European Golden Boot before kick-off for finishing top of the continent's scoring charts last season with 26 league goals.

Catania turned out in their home stadium for the first time since they were banned from playing there following riots which killed a policeman outside a match with Palermo in February.

A minute's silence was held for the officer before kick-off but the game was largely forgettable.

In Turin, Francesco Cozza grabbed a last-minute equaliser for Reggina in an entertaining clash.

Nicola Amoruso scored first when he slammed home on the half hour after Torino had failed to clear their lines but the home side hit back when Alessandro Rosina took the ball off the toes of new striker partner Alvaro Recoba and coolly finished.

Nicola Ventola then put Torino in front on 58 minutes although the ball looked to have gone over the byline in the build-up.