Federico Gatti headed house in the 97th minute to earn Juventus a 1-1 draw in opposition to Sevilla in their Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday.
Youssef En-Nesyri gave the file six-time champions the lead in the primary half they usually appeared set to take that benefit again to Seville earlier than Gatti’s late intervention.
Moroccan worldwide En-Nesyri completed a pointy counter-attack in the twenty sixth minute to interrupt the impasse in Turin.
Jose Luis Mendilibar’s facet deserved their lead on the break and though Juventus improved, the Andalucians shut them out effectively in their bid to take their benefit again to the rowdy Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan subsequent week.
However Gatti nodded house from level clean vary after substitute Paul Pogba headed the ball again into his path from a nook.
“It’s a disgrace, given the sport that we performed, that they levelled in the final play of the match, however it’s what it’s,” mentioned Mendilibar.
“We stopped Juventus in every moment and we played well at times too, we have to think about that, not the last moment of the game.”
Sevilla, who dumped Manchester United out in the quarter-finals, have by no means been knocked out of the event in the semi-final stage.
The Spaniards, who received the Europa League on the Juventus Stadium in 2014, made themselves at house in the primary half.
The hosts ought to have taken the lead when Dusan Vlahovic fired over, maybe postpone by Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou’s dive at his toes
After that Mendilibar’s facet began to impose themselves, with Lucas Ocampos enjoying a key function.
The Argentine winger, recalled from his mortgage at Ajax in January, despatched a shot inches large from shut vary, earlier than making amends by organising the opening aim.
Ocampos drove ahead and performed a low ball throughout the realm, which Bryan Gil left for En-Nesyri to brush house.
The ahead has been in sensational type for the reason that World Cup, with 16 targets in 2023 throughout all competitions.
Sevilla had been dealt a blow when Ocampos limped off injured shortly afterwards, however stayed on the assault. Wojciech Szczesny tipped over an Ivan Rakitic drive from distance, whereas En-Nesyri curled narrowly off beam.
– Taking motion –
Massimiliano Allegri took motion, sending on Federico Chiesa and younger English winger Samuel Iling-Junior at half-time in search of the equaliser.
Juventus, second in Serie A however ready on the end result of an Italian soccer federation ruling on illicit switch exercise, might find yourself needing to qualify for subsequent season’s Champions League via Europa League victory.
Former Chelsea youth staff participant Iling-Junior minimize in dangerously from the left however couldn’t discover a closing ball as a extra composed Juventus loved extra management.
It was one other Juventus substitution which proved essential. Veteran defender Leonardo Bonucci, on his five hundredth look in all competitions for Juventus, was taken off with a groin damage for Gatti after an hour.
Eventually their second-half strain paid off when Gatti scored with nearly the final contact of the sport, leaving honours even forward of the return in Seville subsequent Thursday.
Gatti, who additionally struck for Juventus in the quarter-finals in opposition to Sporting, ensured the Italians remained unbeaten at house in the Europa League this season.
Sevilla gamers had been left annoyed because the 24-year-old centre-back nodded in after the six minutes of time added on had expired, however must wait till subsequent week to set issues straight.
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)
