Alex's night

October 1st, 2000
Juventus Official Site

This Saturday there was great cause for celebration as lovers of the beautiful game were treated to a wonder goal, Del Piero style. Nobody does it better than the Conegliano-born player who scored Juve's winner in front of an incredulous San Paolo public. A perfectly calibrated right-foot curler which eluded the wonderfully named Ferdinando Coppola in the Napoli goal saw the hearts of the Napoli faithful broken on the day their club returned to Serie A.

Alex, as ever, was sparing and modest with his post-match comments. "The goal? I'm happy," he said simply. "Juve's win? It is a good sign but there are still problems which need to be ironed out." After greeting the VIP fans at the end of the game, Alex sat down to talk to his loved one on his mobile as he always does.

Del Piero was also congratulated by club President Vittorio Chiusano. He wasn't the only one to offer hearty tribute either, as all the players rallied round Del Piero. Darko Kovacevic, who scored the equalising goal, was one of the first to do so along with Alessandro Tacchinardi.

Ever since a potentially career-ending injury that kept him out of the game for nine months, Del Piero has had to deal with the doubters who maintained he would never again reach the bewitching heights he sop regularly scaled in the halcyon days of his Juve career. This goal, which offers further evidence of his return to top-class form, was yet another poke in the face for the prophets of doom.

It was clearly Alex's night and that strike will be forever etched in the memory of the 70,000 fans at the San Paolo as well as millions of football fans worldwide. Best of all though, is the prospect of many more goals to come from the Bianconeri number 10.
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