Juve''s Matri returns to haunt Cagliari

Rome, Feb 6 (AFP) Alessandro Matri returned to haunt hisformer club Cagliari when he scored twice in Juventus''s 3-1win.

The victory ended a run of three straight defeats andeased the pressure on Juve coach Luigi Delneri.

Matri''s goals sandwiched a strike from Cagliari''s RobertAcquafresca before Luca Toni scored a late clincher.

It was a vital win for Juve as well with champions InterMilan the visitors to Turin next week.

"It can be more difficult to play against Cagliari thanagainst Inter," said Delneri.

"Who we''re playing doesn''t change anything for us.

"We have to show that we''re a team that knows how tosuffer, able to keep its feet on the ground and going forwardweek after week."

Cagliari coach Roberto Donadoni said it was strangeseeing former charge Matri scoring against his team.

"It makes an impression seeing Matri score not for theCagliari shirt as he was doing until a few days ago but foranother shirt," he said.

"For sure, this time Matri didn''t make Cagliari happy."

Cagliari goalkeeper Michael Agazzi had a match to forgetas he was at fault for all three Juve goals.

On 20 minutes Matri tried his luck from just inside thearea, shooting hard towards the near post but although Agazzilooked to have it covered, he let it slip through his grasp.

He then committed an absolute howler, letting a shot fromGiorgio Chiellini slip through his fingers before being savedby an offside flag.

If Cagliari had failed to create much in the first half,they were a transformed team after the break.

Just six minutes after the restart, Andrea Cossu foundspace out on the left and chipped an inswinging cross behindthe Juve defence where Acquafresca ran on to acrobaticallyvolley home across Gianluigi Buffon.

The hosts could have had a second on the hour as Cossucleverly took a quick free-kick, chipping over the nappingJuve defence where Daniele Conti ran onto it but could notget a true contact on the ball and sliced it off target.

Matri had another chance but sent a near-post header justpast the upright.

Midway through the half, Juve substitute Alessandro DelPiero tried his luck from range but shot too high.

Matri got his second on 75 minutes as he arrived at theback post to volley home Chiellini''s cross, although Agazzi''spositioning was again suspect. (More) AFP SHN