Second half goals by Weston McKennie and Leonardo Bonucci meant Juventus claimed bragging rights after they defeated Torino 2-1 at Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening. Nkoulou struck early for the visitors, but a resilient display saw the Bianconeri turn the score around to claim three points!
NKOULOU HANDS TORO FIRST HALF LEAD
After having drawn to Benevento last weekend, the Bianconeri were looking to bounce back with a win. However, they found themselves experience an unwelcome start to the game when Torino grabbed an early opening goal. Meite flicked on a corner and it fell to an unmarked Nkoulou, who reacted quickly and fired in from six yards. The Granata then nearly doubled their lead minutes later when Zaza skipped the offside trap and went one-on-one with Szczesny, which saw the Polish stopper pull off a great save to deny his effort. Lyanco saw his effort from range flash wide, while the half ended with a curling Dybala effort that sailed into Sirigu’s arms and an acrobatic kick by Bellotti that sailed over the bar.
MCKENNIE DRAWS LEVEL, BONUCCI WINS IT
Torino started the second half as strong as they did the first, winning a series of free-kicks around the box which the Bianconeri fought off. The Bianconeri thought they had found the equaliser in the 56th minute when Juan Cuadrado fired home on the edge of the D, but after consulation with VAR the referee ruled it out for Bonucci’s block on Lyanco. The Bianconeri started to apply the pressure the Granata, as Chiesa forced a save from Sirigu. There was nothing the Italian shot-stopped could do in the 77th minute when the Bianconeri drew level through McKennie’s glancing header off a Cuadrado assist. Andrea Pirlo’s men were not giving up, and they found the match winner through Leonardo Bonucci, who scored an almost identical goal to McKennie’s when he turned in Juan Cuadrado’s floated cross to make it 2-1 in the 89th minute.
Juventus: Szczesny; Cuadrado, De Ligt, Bonucci, Danilo (Alex Sandro 71’); Kulusevski (Ramsey 56’), Bentancur, Rabiot (McKennie 76’), Chiesa; Dybala, Ronaldo
Subs: Pinsoglio, Israel, Frabotta, Alex Sandro, Dragusin, Arthur, Ramsey, Portanova, McKennie, Bernardeschi, Da Graca
Torino: Sirigu; Lyanco, Nkoulou, Rodriguez; Singo, Meité, Rincon, Linetty, Ansaldi; Zaza, Belotti