24 July 2019
Juventus triumphed via a penalty shootout, after the match against Inter ended 1-1 in normal time. The Nerazzurri took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes due to an own goal, while Cristiano Ronaldo found the equalizer.
After falling 3-2 to Tottenham in the opening game of the International Champions Cup on Sunday, Juventus took to the field in Nanjing looking to claim a victory against their Italian rivals, Inter.
INTER GO INTO THE BREAK LEADING
Inter started off with tons of energy, and they laid on a stream of attacks on the Bianconeri backline. They took the lead inside the 10th minute of the game, after a cross was delivered into the box from a corner kick and Matthijs de Ligt accidently turned the ball into the back of the net. The Nerazzurri continued to press and they came close to doubling their need through a D’Ambrosio header towards the box, only to see his effort blown for a foul.
The scorching heat and humidity meant that chances in front of goal were few and far between on both ends on the field. Ronaldo tried to turn things up with his step overs and skills, while Perisic rattled the side-netting in the 38th minute of the match. Szczesny was then called into action a few minutes later when he denied Brozovic’s stinging effort from the edge of the box. Bernardeschi attempted to equal the scoreline going in to the break, when he struck an effort from 20-yards out, but it was smothered by Handanovic.
RONALDO PULLS ONE BACK
After the break, Maurizio Sarri introduced three new players into the fray, by bringing on Buffon, Demiral and Manzkuic in place of Szczesny, de Ligt and Higuain. The Bianconeri started off the half brightly, as they went on more runs in the final third and started to press Inter’s backline. Ronaldo was the first to really test Padelli in the 54th minute when he worked his way into the box, pulled off a series of stepovers before firing a powerful drive towards goal, which the keeper parried away.
Two minutes later, Rabiot stung the palms of Padelli when he went on a central run and unleashed a powerful effort at the shot-stopper. Demiral then made a crucial interception inside the box to deny Perisic from unleashing his shot on goal, before Juventus found the equalizer (1-1) in the 67th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to take a free-kick on the edge of the box, and as he struck it, it took a deflection off Skriniar to sail into the back of the net.
Ronaldo came close to taking the lead in the 75th minute of the game when Rabiot launched a long ball up the field. The Portuguese attacker burst into the box from the side, rounded Padelli but then had the ball snatched away at his feet when he tried to cut in again. Bernardeschi made a great run up the flank, before cutting in, but his cross-cum-shot in the 85th minute didn’t test the Inter goalkeeper. The game ended 1-1 inside the 90 minutes, forcing the result to be determined via a penalty shootout.
JUVE TRIUMPH ON PENALTIES
Juventus triumphed 4-3 on penalties, with Demiral scoring the decisive penalty, and Buffon saving three the spot-kicks of Ranocchia, Longo and Valero.
INTER: Ranocchia (SAVED), Puscas (GOAL), Longo (SAVED), Joao Mario (GOAL), Barella (GOAL), Valero (SAVED)
JUVENTUS: Cancelo (GOAL), Ronaldo (GOAL), Can (GOAL), Rabiot (MISS), Bernardeschi (MISS), Demiral (GOAL)
Juventus: Szczesny (Buffon 46’); Cancelo, de Ligt (Demiral 46’), Bonucci (Rugani 69’), De Sciglio; Rabiot, Pjanic (Can 65’), Matuidi; Bernardeschi, Higuain (Mandzukic 46’), Ronaldo
Inter: Handanovic; D’Ambrosio, De Vrij, Skriniar; Candreva, Gagliardini, Brozovic, Sensi, Dalbert; Perisic, Esposito
