Ronaldo scores soaring header as Juventus hold off Sampdoria

MILAN, Dec 19, (AP): Cristiano Ronaldo’s scoring streak continued as the Juventus forward netted a soaring header to secure a 2-1 victory at Sampdoria, putting the defending champions back atop the Serie A standings.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon matched Paolo Maldini’s all-time record of 647 Serie A appearances in the game, but Ronaldo found a way to steal the spotlight once again.

The Portugal star leaped above a defender and hung in the air to meet a cross before planting a header into the top of the net for the winning goal on the stroke of halftime. Earlier, Gianluca Caprari had canceled out Paulo Dybala’s opener for Juve.

“The goal was nice, but I am especially happy to have helped the team to get the three points,” Ronaldo said. “The important thing is to help Juventus win titles.” Sampdoria coach Claudio Ranieri said all he could do was applaud.

“When someone scores a goal like that you have to just watch and admire,” he said. “Ronaldo scored in the style of an NBA player, he was in the air for an hour and a half.” The 34-year-old Ronaldo didn’t score a goal in November but now has six in his past five matches.

“I had a problem with my knee which affected me for a month but now I feel very good,” he said.

Juventus moved three points above Inter Milan, which have played a game less than the eight-time defending champions.

Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri again started with the attacking trident of Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain and Ronaldo.

And Dybala gave Juve the lead in the 19th minute when he hit Alex Sandro’s cross on the volley and it bounced onto the ground and into the far bottom corner.

Alex Sandro was then at fault for the equalizer in the 35th when he twice gave the ball away leading to Caprari’s goal.

But the Brazil defender again turned provider with another cross from the left to set up Ronaldo’s spectacular header. board chairman Alexander Ivlev said. After a panel of three CAS arbitrators is chosen, a verdict will be issued within three months.

“The ball will be in WADA’s court and the issue will be discussed in a legal context,” Ivlev said. “We consider the argumentation to be fairly strong and we will see how the issue develops.”

Thursday’s decision must be approved by another panel of Russian sports and anti-doping figures, but

Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo, (top), scores his side’s second goal during a Serie A soccer match between Sampdoria and Juventus, at Luigi Ferraris

Stadium in Genoa, Italy, Dec 18. Juventus won 2-1. (AP)