What was arguably Weston McKennie’s finest performance this season for Juventus was marred by a late injury that will keep him sidelined for several weeks, while Christian Pulisic and AC Milan dropped points against Atalanta in a generally frustrating performance.
Juventus 3 – 2 Frosinone
A fine outing from Weston McKennie helped Juventus escape embarrassment against visiting Frosinone on Sunday night, however a late shoulder injury will keep him on the sidelines for some time.
The USMNT star had a pair of assists and set up a total of six chances for his teammates before departing with three minutes left in regulation, while his compatriot Tim Weah played the final half-hour, having limited impact overall.
The hosts were off and running from the opening whistle, and took a lightening-fast lead before the three-minute mark. Federico Gatti lobbed a deep pass over the defense towards McKennie on the right flank, who had slipped in between two Frosinone players into open space.
The American took one touch to control the ball, then tapped the softest of crosses over wards Dusan Vlahovic at the near edge of the six-yard box, for an angled finish to the lower far corner.
Much to the surprise of the home crowd, the visitors came storming back, equalizing in the 14th minute with an athletic header by Walid Cheddira to the right side. Marco Brescianini then gave them the lead 13 minutes later, finishing a counter by powering through two Juve defenders before unleashing a 15-yard blast that rattled the underside of the top netting.
The first-half goal-fest continued five minutes later, with the McKennie-Vlahovic combo once again doing the job. Moments after Vlahovic was denied by the Frosinone keeper Michele Cerofolini, McKennie found the Serb from the top edge of the area, whose left-footed looper to the left of goal slipped by his opponent’s fingertips.
After the four-goal flurry in the first 32 minutes, the game slowed down considerably, with the hosts holding the edge but not producing the final product to take the lead. Weah’s introduction for left winger Filip Kostic did little to change the complexion, and McKennie’s dislocated shoulder in the 87th minute looked to have left Juve in a tough spot.
However, center back Daniele Rugani came through for the Old Lady in the end, slamming home Vlahovic’s flicked header at the right post following a corner to earn the late 3-2 victory.
The victory ends a four-game winless run for Juventus, with their next game a visit to reigning Serie A champions Napoli on Sunday.
AC Milan 1 – 1 Atalanta
A dominant, yet ineffective performance by AC Milan on Sunday night saw them settle for a draw against visiting Atalanta, with Christian Pulisic failing to be the difference-maker in his 88-minute outing.
The American did take a pair of shots, one of which forced a save from Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi, and set up an additional chance, however most of the hosts’ attack flowed through Theo Hernández and Rafael Leao on the opposite side of the field.
Yunus Musah was used as a late substitute by head coach Stefano Pioli, completing all but one of his 13 passes over 11 minutes as Milan’s late wave of pressure failed to pay off.
The hosts’ best moment came shortly after the opening whistle, on a brilliant effort by Leao that will help push his likely summer transfer price closer to the nine-digit threshold. Receiving the ball at the left edge of the field, the Portuguese international proceeded to advance forward under heavy pressure from Emil Holm and Italian phenom Giorgio Scalvini.
After nutmegging Scalvini, he burst through the double-team with a quick cut-move that left both players out of sorts, then lashed his angled shot to the upper right corner of goal for the emphatic 1-0.
While Milan were generally in control, their inability to add to their lead came back to bite them in the backside shortly before the half.
On a 39th-minute corner, Holm tried to head the ball towards goal from just beyond the edge of the six-yard box. While his header was far from perfect, Olivier Giroud’s clumsy attempt to simultaneously kick it away appeared to catch Holm in his upper torso.
Even though the ball had already departed Holm’s forehead before Giroud’s boot connected with the front of his left shoulder, and the Swedish international did heavily embellish the contact by immediately clutching his face, a subsequent VAR review still awarded what was a clear, albeit unnecessary, penalty to the visitors.
Teun Koopmeiners stepped up to the spot and slammed his shot straight down the middle, punking Milan keeper Mike Maignan, who dove to his left, to bring the game on even footing.
Milan continued their overall dominance after the break, but a combination of wastefulness and a brilliant performance from Italian youth keeper Carnesecchi kept La Dea in the game.
Pulisic had one of their best chances of the half in the 69th minute when he pulled down a long, crossfield pass from Leao inside the Atalanta area, but his shot towards the lower far corner rolled just wide.
The result leaves Milan four points behind second-place Juve, and now only five points ahead of fifth place Bologna, and seven up on Atalanta, who also have a game-in-hand.
They are already back in action on Friday when they visit Lazio.
Notes
Kristoffer Lund was not in uniform on Saturday for Palermo’s 2-2 road draw at Cremonese. The team missed a golden opportunity to climb above their hosts after Cremonese were reduced to ten men in the 16th minute, and currently occupy fourth place with 12 games left to play.
Nicholas Gioacchini didn’t make it off of Como’s bench on Saturday afternoon for their 1-1 home draw against Serie B leaders Parma. Como end the round of games in fourth place, within the flock of teams fighting for the division’s second automatic promotion spot.
Andrija Novakovich started and played 69 minutes at center forward for Lecco on Saturday, taking one shot and setting up one chance in their scoreless road draw at Ternana. Lecco remain in last place in Serie B, and need a quick turnaround over their final 12 games if hey hope to avoid what is looking to be a near-certain relegation.
Both Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann started for Venezia on Saturday, helping the team jump into the automatic promotion spots with a 2-1 road win over relegation-threatened Pisa. Busio notched his third assist of the season on what would be the winning goal, and alongside Tessmann helped to limit their hosts to only two shots on target over 90 minutes.
