TURIN: Juventus claimed a 2-1 win over Cagliari after a Kenan Yildiz double turned the match on its head and stopped the hosts slipping further behind the Serie A pacesetters on Saturday.
The victory brings some relief for Juve after two league draws, putting them in seventh place on 23 points. They are four points behind leaders AS Roma who host third-placed Napoli (25 points) on Sunday. Cagliari are 14th with 11 points.
Sebastiano Esposito gave Cagliari the lead after 26 minutes, tucking the ball home from close range after a low ball from the byline found him unmarked, with the Juventus defense reacting a fraction too late to block the effort.
But Yildiz refused to let the visitors enjoy their advantage for long. Barely a minute later, he levelled the match by bending a low shot from the edge of the box into the far corner.
Juve had seized the momentum, though their rhythm briefly stalled when forward Dusan Vlahovic saw a powerful effort saved and hurt himself in the process, hobbling off to be substituted.
In first-half stoppage time, Weston McKennie’s clever back-heel went to Pierre Kalulu, who found Yildiz at the edge of the area. With two deft touches, the Turkish forward slipped between two defenders and guided a precise finish into the far corner.
After the break, the intensity remained but both sides dug in defensively. Cagliari pushed hard but faced growing frustration as they found it difficult to find a way back with an equalizer and Juventus held on to secure the points.
Yildiz inspires Juventus to 2-1 comeback win over Cagliari
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Yildiz inspires Juventus to 2-1 comeback win over Cagliari
- The victory brings some relief for Juve after two league draws, putting them in seventh place
- Yildiz refused to let the visitors enjoy their advantage for long
Kanno brace sends Saudi Arabia through while Morocco, Palestine stay on course
- Mohamed Kanno scored twice as Saudi Arabia came from a goalless first half to defeat Comoros
DOHA: Saudi Arabia booked their place in the FIFA Arab Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over tournament debutants Comoros on Friday, while Morocco remained on course for the knockout stages despite being held by Oman.
Mohamed Kanno scored twice as Saudi Arabia came from a goalless first half to defeat Comoros and finish top of their group.
The debutants had threatened an early breakthrough when Affane Said Djambae headed wide in the 20th minute, a miss they would rue.
Deep into stoppage time, a goalkeeping error allowed Salem Al-Dawsari to tee up Kanno for a powerful header, before the pair combined again shortly after the break for Saudi Arabia’s second.
Comoros briefly reignited hopes through Ibroihim Djoudja, but Al-Dawsari sealed the win with a superb solo effort.
Earlier, ten-man Morocco played out a scoreless draw with Oman in Al-Rayyan to retain top spot in Group B.
Captain Abderrazzaq Hamdallah went closest before being sent off early in the second half, but Oman were unable to capitalize on their numerical advantage.
Thursday’s action saw late drama once again shape Group A.
Palestine struck in the closing stages for a second straight game to earn a crucial 2-2 draw against Tunisia, leaving them level with Syria at the top of the standings.
Zaid Qunbar, who scored the equalizer, was named player of the match.
Syria also left it late, with Omar Khribin’s stoppage-time goal earning a 1-1 draw with hosts Qatar and keeping qualification finely balanced heading into the final group fixtures.
