Juventus U19 proved once again on the stage of the UEFA Youth League that they don't know the meaning of defeat. Trailing by three goals heading into the final minute the match finished 4-4.
THE MATCH
Juve needed to win to avoid the Youth League playoffs. After only 20 minutes, however, PSG were already two goals up. The first was scored by Gharbi in the sixth minute, the second by Housni in the 19th. Exactly as happened in Lisbon a few days ago, Juve were slow to enter the action, but when they did, it was an entirely different match.
Again Paolo Montero's team talk at the interval produced the desired effect.
Yildiz open up the contest only five minutes into the second half, but PSG responded and restored their two goal cushion with a second for Housni. Not to be outdone Gharbi also grabbed his brace with six minutes to play.
All too easy it seemed for the Parisians, who let their guard down and almost paid dearly.
Yildiz scored his second of the game in the 90th minute with a precise left-footed shot from the edge of the area. Again in the stoppage time there was no stopping this young Juve side. Huijsen scored with a header in the 48th minute. No sooner had kick off been taken that Juve drew level. Anghelé's missile from the centre of the area rocketed into the net for 4-4.
The final whistle was greeted almost with disappointment by the Bianconeri. On the one hand, a feeling that with such a reaction, maybe a few minutes before would have made everything possible. On the other hand, though, another ovation for the splendid Juventus U19, who will now head to the playoffs.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
PAOLO MONTERO
"These three goals in stoppages mean that this team is capable of often overturning the result. Today, however, PSG were superior to us and deserved to win. Our players never give up and they are showing it, they are at an age where they have to allow themselves to make mistakes, but we still have to improve, defending more as a team, because the technical level is very high. We have many group and individual meetings to listen to the lads - they are the ones who go out on the pitch and they must be able to express themselves with freedom and confidence, even with the risk of making mistakes, because growth comes this way."
LORENZO ANGHELÉ
"We had prepared the match to win it, even if PSG are a great team and we knew it. There's a sense of regret. We struggled in the build up because when we shot they knew all about it. We have to start well from the beginning. We often talk to each other during the interval about the things we are doing wrong and that we need to improve. However, we are happy to have reached the Playoffs. My goal? I'm happy, it's nice to give the team a hand, maybe with a few more minutes we could have gone on to win it."
UEFA Youth League - Match Day 6
Juventus 4-4 Paris Saint-Germain (HT 0-2)
Scorers: 6' Gharbi (P), 19' Housni (P), 50' Yildiz (J), 57' Housni (P), 84' Gharbi (P), 90' Yildiz (J), 90'+3 Huijsen (J), 90'+4 Anghelè (J)
Juventus: Daffara, Rouhi, Huijsen, Dellavalle (cap) (25' st Domanico), Doratiotto (17' st Maressa), Turco N., Hasa (25' st Mancini), Mbangula, Turco S. (30' st Anghelè), Ripani (17' st Ledonne), Yildiz. Subs not used: Vinarcik, Valdesi. Coach: Paolo Montero.
PSG: Mouquet, Lamy, Muntu Wa Mungu, El Hannach (cap), Fernandez, Mbappé, Zague, Kari, Housni (42' st Michut), Gharbi, Mukelenge (33' st Etondé). Subs not used: Nkounkou, Doucouré, Cordier, Lopes, Tchicamboud. Coach: Zoumana Camara.
Referee: Kooij.
Bookings: 38' Fermandez (P), 45'+1 El Hannach (P), 49' Huijsen (J), 66' Ledonne (J), 77' Anghelè (J), 78' Housni (P), 86' Turco S. (J)
Sending off: 75' Fernandez (P)