Football: Juventus struggle

JUVENTUS SCRAPED through to the semi-finals of the Intertoto Cup on Saturday night after being held to a goalless home draw by the Romanian side Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt.

The Italians, who appeared in three consecutive European Cup finals from 1996 and reached the semi-finals last season, were forced to enter the competition after finishing only sixth in Serie A.

Hamburg, another former European champion club, won 3-2 at Basle of Switzerland to go through on the away goals rule.

UEFA INTERTOTO CUP DRAW: Semi-finals: (A) Rostselmash Rostov (Rus) v Juventus (It); (B) Rennes (Fr) v Austria Vienna (Aut); (C) West Ham United (Eng) v Heerenveen (Neth); (D) MSV Duisburg (Ger) v Montpellier (Fr); (E) Trabzonspor (Tur) v Hamburg SV (Ger); (F) Metz (Fr) v Polonia Warsaw (Pol). (First leg 28 July, second leg 4 August).

Finals: Winner match D v Winner match E; Winner match A v Winner match B; Winner match C v Winner match F. (First leg 10 August, second leg 24 August). Winners of finals qualify for first round of Uefa Cup.