Coppa Italia: Dybala and Vlahovic helps Juventus beat Sassuolo 2-1 and enter semifinals

Hamed Traore's beautiful curler canceled out Paulo Dybala's early goal before Dusan Vlahovic's deflected effort went inside the goal to seal Juventus' victory.

Juventus beat Sassuolo 2-1 in the Coppa Italia quarter-final fixture on Thursday; Credit: Twitter/@juventusfc
By Sreejith C R | Feb 11, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Juventus defeated Sassuolo 2-1 in Turin on Thursday to enter the semifinals of Coppa Italia. Paulo Dybala scored an early goal for Juve before Sassuolo equalized through Hamed Traore. Just when it looked like the game would go to extra time, Dusan Vlahovic’s deflected effort went in, setting up a Coppa-Italia last four with the Serbian’s former club Fiorentina. The 21-year-old prolific striker had joined Juve in the January transfer window for a Serie A record transfer fee of around EUR 75 million. 

Last game’s goal scorers Vlahovic and Denis Zakaria were starting again while Leonardo Bonucci and Alex Sandro were back from injury. It took less than three minutes for Juve to put their nose in front. Weston McKennie’s shot from Sandro’s cut back was blocked by Sassuolo defense but the rebound fell nicely for Dybala to slot home with a left-footed side-on volley from inside the box.

In response, Juve goalkeeper Mattia Perinwas tested by Berardi and Giorgos Kyriakopoulos’s strikes. The visitors deservedly leveled the score in the 24th minute. Traore played a one-two with Gianluca Scamacca to get inside the box, before slotting home past Perin into the far top corner with a beautiful right-footed curler. 

McKennie’s header from Sandro’s cross was smothered, then the American’s right-foot curler struck the far post. Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri didn’t want the game to go to extra time, with an important Serie A clash against Atalanta coming up, so he introduced Alvaro Morata and Manuel Locatelli. 

Juve’s late winner

Vlahovic tested Pegolo from McKennie’s through ball, then Gian Marco Ferrari made a desperate block on Morata following a give-and-go with Vlahovic. There was an incredible triple Juve chance in the 73rd minute on a Dybala free-kick, as McKennie’s header was parried away from close range, De Light turned the rebound onto the upright and Bonucci couldn’t keep the third attempt on target.

Few moments later, Vlahovic sent Morata clear on goal but the Spanish forward was denied by Pegolo on a one-on-one situation. The 40-year-old goalkeeper was having a busy night as he made a superb save on Adrien Rabiot’s looping header from McKennie’s throw in. 

Pegolo was finally beaten two minutes from time. Vlahovic got past Mert Muldur on the left flank, got inside the box and cut inside for a shot that changes direction off Ruan Tressoldi to surprise the goalkeeper. 





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