18 April 2018
After an early Alex Sandro goal, Juventus were forced to split the spoils on Wednesday night in Calabria drawing 1-1 with Crotone.
Looking to pick up right where he left off in Sunday’s win over Sampdoria, Brazilian winger Douglas Costa didn’t take long to pick up another assist. The Flash found space on the left and sent in a cross that found the head of Alex Sandro.
The Brazilian to Brazilian connection proved fruitful as Sandro beat Alex Cordaz with the header to put Juventus up 1-0 in the 16th minute with his fourth goal of the season coming off Costa’s fourth assist in his last two matches.
Gonzalo Higuain would come close on a couple occasions late in the first half for the Bianconeri, but Massimiliano Allegri’s side took a 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
After some back-and-forth play in the second half, the home side found a stunning equalizer. After a ball into the box bounced around, Nigerian forward Simy beat Wojciech Sczcesny with an overhead kick to level the match in the 65th minute.
Juventus went straight back on the offensive and nearly took back the lead just minutes later. Blaise Matuidi found space 25 yards from goal unleashing a wicked effort that forced a stunning one-handed diving save from goalkeeper Alex Cordaz.
Again, Cordaz denied the Bianconeri two minutes later after a smart cross from second half substitution Rodrigo Bentancur found Higuain unmarked eight yards out. The Argentine’s rasper was saved by the feel of Cordaz keeping the match level.
Neither side was able to carve out a solid scoring chance in the final 15 minutes and the sides would split the points after a 1-1 draw. The result, coupled with Napoli’s 4-2 win against Udinese, means Juve’s lead at the top of Serie A will be four points heading into Sunday’s massive encounter between the two sides.
