04 January 2024
Juventus came from a goal down in the first minute to thrash Salernitana 6-1 and march on to the Italian Cup quarter-finals.
The opening game of 2024 was one to remember for Fabio Miretti, Kenan Yildiz and Tim Weah, who all celebrated goals for the first time at the Allianz Stadium, as it was also for Joseph Nonge, who made his first team debut as a second half substitute.
Andrea Cambiaso and Daniele Rugani were also on the scoresheet while an own goal completed the scoring.
THE MATCH
In an Italian Cup round of 16 full of surprises, Juventus were caught cold in the first minute, but any thoughts of an upset by Salernitana were blown away by sparkling Bianconeri performance.
With less than 60 seconds on the clock Juve were behind when the visitors pressed Federico Gatti into making a mistake with a passback to Daniele Rugani. The ball landed at the feet of Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi, who slotted his shot beyond a stranded Mattia Perin.
Federico Chiesa then took the proceedings by the scruff of the neck.
On 12 minutes he charged at the Salernitana defence before flighting a cross to Andrea Cambiaso. The number 27 intelligently nodded the ball down into the path of Fabio Miretti, for the midfielder to slide in and drill the ball in at Vincenzo Fiorillo’s near post.
Juve kept up the pressure and another slick move down the right between Iling and Cambiaso released Gatti on the run. The defender was brought down by Salomon Sambia and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. However, VAR decided the contact was made just outside the area, overturning the spot kick for a free kick.
With Chiesa prompting attack after attack, and coming close with a shot of his own, it was only a matter of time before the Bianconeri completed the turnaround. The number 7 curled in a cross from a corner, which Danilo headed on to Andrea Cambiaso. From the edge of the six-yard box Cambiaso hit his volley low into the far corner.
Fiorillo then made a save to keep the gap to just one goal at the break, denying Miretti a double, but the Salernitana captain was set for a torrid second half.
On 54’ another move from a corner saw Chiesa deliver another precise cross, which was met in the air by Arek Milik. The striker’s header was blocked by Fiorillo, only for Rugani to tap in from close range.
Massimiliano Allegri freshened up his side with a quarter of an hour remaining, and it was the substitutes that added to the glut of goals.
When Kenan Yildiz was played in on goal by Milik, Fiorillo managed to make the block, but this time it was teammate Dylan Bronn, who turned the ball into the empty net.
Yildiz was not going to be denied his first goal at the Allianz Stadium, however, and with two minutes of normal time remaining he glided away from two Salernitana defenders before slamming his shot into the net.
A turn of pace and display of lucidity in front of goal and Kenan lapped up the applause.
The scoring was not yet over. Timothy Weah grabbed his first in the black and white stripe with a screamer from outside the box that smashed in off the underside of the crossbar. A debut strike to remember.
Juventus powered into the Italian Cup quarter-finals and will take on Frosinone, the vanquishers of Napoli.
JUVENTUS 6-1 SALERNITANA (HT: 2-1)
Scorers: 1′ Ikwuemesi, 12′ Miretti, 35′ Cambiaso, 54′ Rugani, 75′ Bronn (o.g.), 88′ Yildiz, 90+1′ Weah
JUVENTUS: Perin; Gatti, Rugani, Danilo; Cambiaso (82′ Kostic), Miretti (76′ Nonge), Locatelli, Rabiot, Iling-Junior (65′ Weah); Milik (76′ Vlahovic), Chiesa (65′ Yildiz). Subs not used: Szczęsny, Pinsoglio, Bremer, Huijsen, Muharemovic, McKennie, Nicolussi Caviglia. Coach: Allegri.
SALERNITANA: Fiorillo; Sambia, Bronn, Lovato, Daniliuc; Legowski (76′ Borrelli), Maggiore (46′ Bradaric); Tchaouna (54′ Sfait), Botheim (54′ Simy), Ikwuemesi; Stewart (46′ Gyomber). Subs not used: Costil, Allocca, Fazio, Elia. Coach: Inzaghi.
Referee: Ghersini
Bookings: 39′ Maggiore
