Cagliari, April 10 (BNA): Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic advanced 15 minutes from the end of time to win Juventus 2-1 at Cagliari Stadium in the Italian Serie A.
Juventus made a slow start in Sardinia and fell behind when Italian striker Joao Pedro scored the hosts ahead in the 10th minute.
The visiting team dominated the remainder of the first half and returned to the required level after the end of the first half when Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt headed in a header, Reuters reported.
There was only one winner as Juventus stayed on top in the second half, with pressure finally as contracted Jan Valhović scored his fifth league goal since arriving in Turin to seal the win for his new side.
The win helped fourth-placed Juventus move within four points of Napoli in third, ahead of Napoli’s clash with Fiorentina on Sunday.
At the other end of the standings, Cagliari’s fifth consecutive defeat in the league left three points above the relegation zone, having played two games more than 18th-placed Venice.
“It was an important match for us after we suffered a psychological setback by losing at home to Inter (Milan, last weekend), and thus seeing the Scudetto fade away,” said Dazen coach Massimiliano Allegri.
“Today it was important to keep the edge over the teams behind us.
“We have to take into account that Vlahovic is 22 years old and has been playing as a junior for a year and a half. At Juventus there is a different pressure. His growth will be complete when he is able to manage his energies.”
The league streak stretched undefeated into November before Inter’s visit to Turin once again dragged Juventus into the title race, but the Scudetto would have felt further removed after finishing off a superb Joao Pedro from the edge of the penalty area – his 12th league goal. season.
Juventus thought they had reached an immediate response after Luca Pellegrini’s shot into the net via a deflected Adrien Rabiot, but was ruled out after the VAR review with Rabiot using his arm to divert the ball into the net.
More opportunities came and went as Juve looked set to frustrate at the break, before De Ligt hit Juan Cuadrado’s cross into the net.
Argentine striker Paulo Dybala, who will leave the club at the end of the season, missed a golden opportunity to complete the comeback early in the second half, and he shot from a good position.
Cuadrado fired the ball wide as the second-placed continued to dribble Juve, before Vlahovic fired in from close range to break Cagliari’s resistance and restore Juventus to victories.