19 April 2024
Juventus fought from two goals down at Cagliari to share the points after a spirited second half display.
A splendid free kick from Dusan Vlahovic and an own goal by Alberto Dossena cancelled out a two goal half-time deficit after Cagliari had converted twice from the penalty spot.
THE MATCH
Back-to-back penalties in five minutes saw Juventus go into the break trailing by two goals at the Unipol Domus as Cagliari’s aggressive counter attacking tactics brought positive results to Claudio Ranieri’s side.
The hosts started strongly and although Eldor Shomurodov did not make the most of a free header from a corner on 15 minutes, it was from another corner that the first penalty would be awarded after a VAR review.
Before the incident in the 26th minute, Federico Chiesa had set up Dusan Vlahovic, whose shot was blocked. A minute later Vlahovic won back possession, fed a pass to Tim Weah, who forced a reflex block from Simone Scuffet.
Then the corner on 26 minutes. Zito Luvumbo failed to make contact from Alberto Dossena’s header, allowing Wojciech Szczesny to kick clear. However, VAR called the referee’s attention to a potential handball by Bremer, which was confirmed after an onfield review.
Gianluca Gaetano slotted home the spot kick. Jerry Mina did likewise six minutes later. The second penalty arrived Luvumbo after was played in behind the Bianconeri defence and was caught by Szczesny as he made his way toward goal.
Juventus thought they had given themselves a lifeline on 43 minutes when Carlos Alcaraz and Andrea Cambiaso combined to release Chiesa on the run. His cross was tapped home by Vlahovic. But celebrations were cut short for offside against the winger.
However, despite a Szczesny save five minutes into the restart, Juve were dominating possession and steadily building up momentum towards salvaging the evening.
With an hour played Chiesa was tripped at the edge of the Cagliari penalty area. Vlahovic curled the ball left footed up and over the wall and beyond a stranded Scuffet.
With only one goal between the teams the home side were forced to defend even more deeply as the Bianconeri looked to complete the comeback. An overhead kick from Vlahovic inside the final 10 minutes was a warning that Juve were going to fight until the last kick of the ball.
And the equaliser did arrive, with three minutes of normal time remaining. Arek Milik stole the ball from the toes of Dossena and worked possession to Yildiz. The teenager played a tantalising cross into the area, which Dossena turned beyond Scuffet into his own net.
Inside stoppage time Yildiz had an opportunity to claim the game’s fifth goal, but his snapshot was smothered by Scuffet.
The game finished all square after a proverbial game of two halves.
CAGLIARI 2-2 JUVENTUS (HT: 2-0)
Scorers: 30′ Gaetano (pen), 36′ Mina (pen), 62′ Vlahovic, 87′ Dossena (o.g.)
CAGLIARI: Scuffet; Hatzidiakos (87′ Wieteska), Dossena, Mina; Nandez (79′ Zappa), Sulemana (46′ Prati), Makoumbou, Augello; Gaetano (69′ Deiola), Luvumbo; Shomurodov (79′ Viola). Subs not used: Radunovic, Aresti, Lapadula, Oristanio, Jankto, Obert, Kingstone, Azzi, Di Pardo. Coach: Ranieri.
JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; Weah (68′ McKennie), Alcaraz (46′ Yildiz), Locatelli (74′ Milik), Rabiot, Cambiaso (86′ Iling jr); Vlahovic, Chiesa. Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Perin, Kostic, Nicolussi, De Sciglio, Alex Sandro, Rugani, Djalo. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Piccinini
Bookings: 35′ Szczesny, 45’+2 Luvumbo, 45’+2 Weah, 48′ Bremer, 60′ Nandez
