Aston Villa win the Peace Cup after dramatic penalty shoot-out
O’Neill has been extremely impressed with the 19-year-old’s contribution this week and it seems the only drawback for the winger is that he plays in an area where Villa are best stocked.
Were he a full back, a centre-half or a central midfielder Albrighton would surely have staked a claim to be a regular starter in the coming campaign. However, he must overcome competition from Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and James Milner if the next stage of his development is to be in a claret and blue shirt.
Not that it seemed to worry him when he sent over a series of dangerous deliveries from the right, including one to the far post which was cleared in the nick of time by a Juventus defender with John Carew lurking, although Albrighton did tire as the evening wore on.
Carew himself went close when his toe-poked free-kick was deflected just past the post after taking a deflection following one of a succession of fouls on Young, who himself brought out two routine saves from Buffon with low drives.
For Juve, Felipe Melo skidded an effort inches wide of the post after the Italians dominated the opening exchanges, while Vincenzo Iaquinta should have done better with a header from a corner after nodding into the turf and over.
It was the Turin team who threatened most after the interval and would have broke the deadlock but for some wasteful finishing and some fine goalkeeping by reserve stopper Guzan.
David Trezeguet missed a sitter from the edge of the six-yard area after a cut-back from the right and was denied along with Cristiano Zanetti by Guzan’s fantastic double save after an erroneous chest pass by Carlos Cuellar.
Guzan also produced fantastic stops to frustrate Jonathan Zebina and Trezeguet again, while, but for his end product, Iaquinta was a constant menace with a header over from close range and then a snapshot and a lob which both went over the crossbar.
Barry Bannan was introduced 15 minutes from time as a substitute for Nicky Shorey and the Scottish midfielder’s first contribution was to drill a fine shot a foot wide of the right-hand post.
Having arrived on the field at the same time as Shane Lowry, who replaced Wiemann, Bannan’s strike was Villa’s first real threat since Lichaj burst through but clipped Buffon early in the second period.
The disparity between the respective squads was highlighted late on when Juventus sent of Italian World Cup winner Del Piero and Villa introduced another youth-teamer, Chris Herd.
Ironically, both went on to miss penalties - although it will be Del Piero's poor effort which will be remembered.
At the start of extra time Nigel Reo-Coker still had the energy to get beyond the opposition defence only to be denied by a last ditch tackle as he burst towards goal.
Relive the penalty drama - click here
VILLA (4-4-2): Guzan; Lichaj, Davies, Cuellar, Shorey (Bannan 74); Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, A Young; Carew (Herd 91), Weimann (Lowry 74). Subs not used: Friedel, Parish, Herd, Hofbauer, Collins, Gardner.
Booked: Villa - Sidwell, Lichaj; Juventus - Melo, Chiellini.
JUVENTUS (4-3-2-1): Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro (Grygera 40); Camoranesi (Del Piero 90), Melo, Marchisio (Zanetti 56); Giovinco (Amauri 91), Iaquinta; Trezeguet. Subs not used: Cannavaro, Salihamidzic, Chimenti, Manninger, Ariaudo, Tiago, Marrone, Immobile.
