Saturday, September 20, 2014

Carlos Teves scores as Juventus outlasts AC Milan 1-0


AC Milan v Juventus


Carlos Tevez netted the only goal of the game in the 71st minute as former Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri got the better of the man whose playing career he effectively ended two years ago while in charge of the Rossoneri - Filippo Inzaghi.
Fernando Torres came on for his Milan debut late in the second half, but he could not help the club avoid dropping their first points of the season as Juve, Serie A winners for the past three seasons, moved three points clear at the top.
Inzaghi went to shake Allegri's hand prior to kick-off, but there was no such cordiality shown on the field with the tackles flying in.
One man keeping his cool was Juventus midfielder Roberto Pereyra, who had the first shot of the game after five minutes, but just missed the goal to the right.
At the other end, Keisuke Honda was first to test Gianluigi Buffon, who responded with a one-handed save, before Pereyra set up Llorente, who touched the ball past Sulley Muntari but could not beat Christian Abbiati inside his near post.
Pereyra's 25-yard effort was pushed wide by Abbiati before Leonardo Bonucci, perhaps believing he was offside, headed Claudio Marchisio's header over when he had time to take the ball down.
The closest either side came to scoring in the first half was when Marchisio let rip from outside the area and his shot struck the right-hand upright.
The Bianconeri were just edging it, with Marchisio again going close on the hour mark from a training ground corner before two touches of class finally saw the deadlock broken.
Paul Pogba provided the first to lift the ball delicately through to Tevez, who sold Abbiati the dummy before finishing past the Milan goalkeeper, and producing a real dummy to celebrate with a dedication to his youngest child.
It was time for Fernando Torres to make his entrance for the Rossoneri, but the on-loan Chelsea forward was unable to change the game.
Milan ended with four forwards after Giampaolo Pazzini was sent on by Inzaghi, who could not avoid his first defeat as Milan coach.