MILAN: Roma missed the chance to go to the top of Serie A after losing at Juventus 2-1 on Saturday.
Francisco Conceição and Loïs Openda scored for Juventus before Tommaso Baldanzi set up a frantic finale. Juventus moved to within one point of fourth-placed Roma.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side would have moved level with Serie A leader Inter Milan with a win, as the three teams above Roma — and Bologna — were involved in the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Paulo Dybala, who won five Serie A titles with Juventus, almost got Roma off to the perfect start but his finish was too weak and straight into the arms of Bianconeri goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Juventus broke the deadlock on halftime. Conceição found Kenan Yıldız on the left and he cut inside before putting in a low cross that was backheeled on by Andrea Cambiaso to Conceição who fired across into the bottom right corner.
Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar pulled off magnificent saves and did well again in the 70th to parry Weston McKennie’s header but the United States international touched on the rebound for Openda to slot into an empty net.
Roma got back into the match five minutes later after Wesley did brilliantly to win the ball back and sent it through to Lewis Ferguson. His angled drive was saved by Di Gregorio but Baldanzi tapped in the rebound.
Yıldız hit the right post in the 80th.
No late winner
Lazio and Cremonese both failed to make the most of their opportunities as they played out a 0-0 draw.
Lazio, which snatched a 1-0 win against Parma last weekend despite ending the match with nine men, almost got another last-gasp winner.
Cremonese defender Federico Ceccherini was shown a straight red card in the fourth minute of stoppage time for bringing down Matteo Cancellieri just outside the area when the Lazio forward was through on goal.
Danilo Cataldi’s free kick skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Juventus beats Roma 2-1 to move within a point of top four in Serie A
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Juventus beats Roma 2-1 to move within a point of top four in Serie A
Iran cannot participate in World Cup, sports minister says
- “Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali said
- “Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist“
TEHRAN: Iran cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup after co-host the United States launched airstrikes against the country alongside Israel, killing its leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Wednesday.
The United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran nearly two weeks ago, killing the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, leading to a region-wide conflict in the Gulf.
“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” the minister told state television.
The World Cup will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
“Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist,” Donyamali said.
“Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence.”
In the draw last December, the Iranians were grouped with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. All three of their Group G matches were scheduled to take place in the US, two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Iran was the only nation missing from a FIFA planning summit for World Cup participants held last week in Atlanta.
Reuters has contacted FIFA for comment.
