Juventus were almost left embarrassed before digging out a stoppage-time equaliser against bottom-placed Salernitana in their Serie A encounter on Sunday evening. The plucky visitors almost produced a huge upset as they fell just short of victory, despite being bottom of the Serie A table and consigned to relegation. For Juventus, it was a difficult day in front of their home fans.
Adrien Rabiot’s goal two minutes into injury time prevented a humiliating home defeat for Juventus against bottom-club Salernitana.
Juventus were tepid in the first half and got punished for their lack of application when Niccolo Pierozzi met a corner at the near post and headed home through the hands of Wojciech Szczesny.
As poor as they were, Juventus did hit the woodwork twice in the first half as a powerful effort from Dusan Vlahovic shook the bar and Andrea Cambiaso’s low curler clipped the post. The hosts were whistled off at half-time but came out the better side after the break. A triple change from coach Max Allegri helped, with one of these, Fabio Miretti, rattling the crossbar with a rocket from the edge of the area.
Rabiot’s goal came in fortuitous fashion after Manuel Locatelli backheeled Samuel Iling Junior’s low corner to him at the back post, allowing him to steer home.
Juventus could still secure UEFA Champions League qualification if Roma fail to beat Atalanta.
The late goal from Adrien Rabiot could play a crucial role in keeping Juventus at the top table of European football.
While it would be unseemly for a club with the storied history of La Vecchia Signora to overly celebrate such an achievement, only managing to score a goal 92 minutes into a game against a team 13 points adrift at the bottom of Serie A, who have long had relegation confirmed and had conceded 75 goals up to this point, must have made it hard for Bianconeri fans to cheer.
The result extends Juventus’ record to six games without a win.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – NICOLO PIEROZZI (SALERNITANA)
The late goal was hard on Salernitana and in particular, their goalkeeper Vincenzo Fiorillo and goalscorer Niccolo Pierozzi. The latter’s goal was the least of his fine efforts.
No one on the pitch won more aerial challenges on the field, nor made more clearances. At the least, the on-loan Fiorentina player may have shown other sides he is well capable of playing in the top flight.
PLAYER RATINGS
Juventus: Szczesny 5; Cambiaso 7, Gatti 6, Bremer 6, Rugani 6; Locatelli 7, Rabiot 7, McKennie 5, Kostic 5; Kean 5, Vlahovic 6.
Subs: Iling-Junior 6, Chiesa 6, Miretti 7, Milik 7, Yildiz 6.
Salernitana: Fiorillo 7; Pierozzi 8*, Fazio 7, Pirola 6; Sambia 6, Coulibaly 6, Basic 6, Zanoli 6; Tchaouna 6, Vignato 6; Ikwuemesi 6.
Subs: Legowski 6, Kastanos 6, Pasalidis 6, Pellegrino 6.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
9′ VLAHOVIC WITH A GREAT STRIKE FROM LONG RANGE! He thundered an effort from inside the D of the penalty area against the frame of the crossbar. It was actually a great stop from Fiorillo who tipped the shot onto the woodwork.
27′ GOAL! JUVENTUS 0-1 SALERNITANA (PIEROZZI)! The defender meets the corner unmarked at the corner of the front six-yard box and steers a header just inside the near post. Although Szczesny gets two hands to the ball he cannot keep it out.
43′ CAMBIASO HITS THE POST! He has been one of the few players who has looked to take the game on. He raced towards the opposition goal and curled a low effort which had the goalkeeper beat, but hit the outside of the post.
60′ VLAHOVIC THROUGH ON GOAL! Chiesa puts him through on goal and the striker nudges the ball just past the onrushing keeper but wide of the far post.
80′ MILIK FLICKS A HEADER TOWARDS GOAL! He directs Yildiz’s cross back past Fiorillo but the goalkeeper reacts quickly and pushes the ball away.
88′ MIRETTI RATTLES THE CROSSBAR FROM 25 YARDS! His effort flies past Fiorillo, leaving the keeper only able to stare and watch, but it cannoned into the crossbar and then bounced a yard away from the goal.
90+2′ GOAL! JUVENTUS (RABIOT) 1-1 SALERNITANA! A corner was back-flicked at the front post by Locatelli and Rabiot steered it home from just beyond the back post.
90+6′ BASIC HAS A CHANCE TO WIN IT WITH THE LAST KICK! But his effort flies over the bar.