Nakata keeps Parma's Cup hopes alive after defeat at Juve
( 2002-04-26 11:25 ) (7 )

Juventus beat Parma 2-1 in the first leg of the Italian Cup final on Thursday, but an injury-time strike from Japan international Hidetoshi Nakata kept Parma's hopes alive for the return game.

A crowd of 35,000 turned out at the Delle Alpi stadium for the final, adding some edge to a match that was in danger of being overshadowed by Juve's push for the Italian title and Parma's fight against relegation.

Both sides rested key players with Juve strike pairing Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet left on the bench, but Marcello Lippi's side looked sharp in attack from the outset.

Juventus went ahead in the fourth minute when their Uruguayan striker Marcelo Zalayeta was brought down by Alain Boghossian inside the area and Nicola Amoruso converted the penalty.

Parma's former Brazil goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel was then forced into a fine save to keep out a header from Michele Parmatti before the visitors went close to an equaliser when Boghossian saw a long-range shot crash out off the bar.

Czech international Pavel Nedved then whistled a shot across the face of the goal after neat work from the lively Zalayeta and it was the Uruguayan who doubled Juve's advantage 12 minutes after the restart.

The powerfully built striker rose well to convert with a fine back-post header from a Paramatti cross.

Marco Marchionni hit the post for Parma and then substitute Nakata forced a fine save out of Juve's second choice goalkeeper Fabian Carini.

But with Juve looking set to take a two-goal advantage into the second-leg Nakata struck in the dying seconds with a sweet volley after being picked out at the back post by Marchionni.

It was Nakata's late goal and assist as a substitute last season which gave his former club Roma a vital point at the Delle Alpi, helping them to the Italian league title and his effort this time ensures there is still all to play for in the second leg on May 10 or 11.