FOFANA DELAYS JUVE PARTY

MILAN: Seko Fofana scored the winner as Juventus fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at struggling Udinese on Thursday to miss the chance to seal the Serie A title for the ninth time in a row.

Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt had put the defending champions ahead three minutes before the break in Udine. But a diving Ilija Nestorovski header seven minutes after the interval got Udinese level, with Fofana completing a comeback for the northeastern side in injury time.

Juventus remain six points ahead of secondplaced Atalanta with three games left to play, and have another chance to seal the title for the 36th time on the pitch at home against 14th-placed Sampdoria on Sunday.

Maurizio Sarri’s side needed just three more points and the coronation could even come on Saturday, depending on the results of their rivals Atalanta and Inter Milan, who play AC Milan and Genoa respectively.

“We paid for a lack of order after a good first half because we wanted to win at all costs,” said Sarri.

“In this way we took the game to a dangerous level, and after the 90th minute, we lost it.”

The coach added: “In this period we are physically and mentally tired.”

Juventus’ performance against the minnows from Udine, close to the border with Slovenia, was worrying ahead of their crunch Champions League last 16 game against Lyon on August 7.

“At the moment I am not thinking about the Champions League, in my mind there is only Sampdoria,” added Sarri.

It was a precious three points for Udinese who moved up to 15th position, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

“Juventus wanted to win the championship, but we had a great game,” said Fofana.

“We said beforehand that (relegation rivals) Lecce were going strong and we had to push forward.” — AFP