Weston McKennie provided two assists for Juventus in a gut-wrenching defeat to Inter Milan, while Gianluca Busio scored a goal to help Venezia trounce Jonathan Klinsmann and Cesena.
Inter Milan 3-2 Juventus
A goal in the 90th minute took out Juventus’ effort to close the gap for third place in the standings as they fell to Inter Milan at the San Siro.
Weston McKennie started and went the distance for I Bianconeri, completing 67 percent passing, winning two duels, making one recovery, and putting two shots on target.
The hosts opened the scoring in the 17th minute thanks to Andrea Cambiaso, when he directed a pass from Luis Henrique past Michele Di Gregorio and into his team’s own goal. However, the Juventus defender made amends nine minutes later to level the score when he one-timed a cross from McKennie into the back of the net.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men three minutes before halftime under what some may have considered controversial means when the referee sent off Pierre Kalulu for a second yellow card. He was alleged to have held defender Alessandro Bastoni from gaining possession of the ball.
Despite being at a disadvantage, Juventus went on the attack in the second half. McKennie came very close with a powerful shot to break the tie, but the ball went directly into the hands of Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Inter retook the lead in the 76th minute when Federico Dimarco’s cross from the left side found Francesco Esposito with a thumping header past a diving Di Gregorio. However, Juventus leveled the score again seven minutes later when McKennie laid the ball into the path of Manuel Locatelli, who steered his shot well past Sommer.
After a couple of near misses, the league leaders made the final statement in the game when Piotr Zielinski’s strike from distance ended Juventus’ hope of taking a point.
Juventus now sits in fifth place in the standings with 46 points.
Cesena 0-4 Venezia
Venezia hit struggling Cesena hard to maintain their hold of the top spot of Serie B with a comfortable win at Stadio Dino Manuzzi.
Gianluca Busio started and played the full 90 minutes for the Winged Lions, completing 90 percent passing, winning five duels, and making five recoveries. On the other side, Jonathan Klinsmann was between the posts for the Seahorses, making three saves and ten recoveries.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Busio sent in a wicked freekick over the Cesena wall and past the outstretched hands of Klinsmann. Andrea Adorante doubled their lead in stoppage time as he steered the ball into the goal after a pass from John Yeboah.
Venezia made it 3-0 in the 62nd minute when Issa Doumbia laid the ball for Antoine Hainaut to score from distance, one that Klinsmann could have stopped.
The league leaders were in complete control of the game and rounded out the scoring in stoppage time when Lion Lauberbach put away a spot kick.
Venezia sits on 53 points, a point ahead of Frosinone.
Notes
Around Serie A, Christian Pulisic made his return for Milan, coming off the bench to play the final 13 minutes in their 2-1 win over Pisa.
Yunus Musah was an unused substitute for Atalanta as they took all three points in a 2-0 win over Lazio in Rome.
Down in Serie B, Andrija Novakovich started for Reggiana as they shared the points with Empoli following a 1-1 tie.
