Juventus clinch All- Star battle
Pressure is less on me now because the last few tournaments I haven't been able to cross the quarterfinals but I have played well at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Championship. I am happy that my form is coming back in important events. — SAINA NEHWAL
Washington, Aug. 2: Serie A champions Juventus got the best of Major League Soccer’s All- Stars in a penalty shootout on Wednesday after an entertaining 1- 1 draw in the North American league’s mid- season exhibition.
Before a crowd of 72,317 at Mercedes- Benz Stadium — home of MLS’s Atlanta United — Juventus prevailed 5- 3 in the shoot- out after New York Red Bulls forward Bradley WrightPhillips missed his penalty attempt.
After Wright- Phillips’ effort bounced off the post to leave Juventus up 4- 3 — Mattia De Sciglio fired into the upper left corner past Columbus goalkeeper Zack Steffen to settle it. Andrea Favilli had put Juventus ahead in the 21st minute, heading in a curling cross by Matheus Pereira.
The MLS All- Stars, selected from around the league through fan voting, pulled level in the 26th minute through Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez — the Venezuela star and former Torino forward who leads MLS with 24 goals in 23 matches.
Juventus keeper Wojciech Szczesny saved an initial effort, but after a scramble in the area, Martinez bundled the ball in to score in front of his home crowd.
“It’s been a moving week here,” Martinez said.
“I have to thank all the fans in Atlanta for the way they support us all the time and the wonderful experience in this game.”
He added, however, that there was “a lot of pressure” on the All- Star team.
“Beyond the fact that we had a very good opponent, it was an important game, especially a team of this calibre. We had never played together before. We only had three days to meet, but I think we looked good despite that.”