A big nod for Dusan
Vlahovic’s header keeps Juve in touch with leaders Inter, napoli’s woes continue
MILAN: Dusan Vlahovic made sure that Juventus stayed two points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan with the decisive late goal in Sunday’s 2-1 win at 10-man Salernitana, as troubled Napoli crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Torino.
Serbia striker Vlahovic thumped home a perfect header in the first minute of stoppage time to snatch the points for Juve, completing a fine comeback from a goal down at the Stadio Arechi.
“We gave everything tonight and we deserved to win. We never give up, we give everything right to the end,” said Vlahovic to DAZN.
“Our aim is to get back into the Champions League, after that we’ll take each game as it comes and see where we end up.”
The 23-year-old’s seventh goal of the season came at the end of a battle in soaking Salerno, where the hosts fought bravely even after losing goalscorer Giulio Maggiore to a second booking in the 53rd minute.
Maggiore had shot Salernitana ahead six minutes before the break but substitute Samuel Ilingjunior put the away side level with a powerful close-range finish in the 65th minute, setting up a blockbuster finale.
And Vlahovic made sure that Juve kept pace with Inter who were controversial winners over Verona on Saturday and have a much tougher run of fixtures over the next month.
Salernitana, who were hammered 6-1 by Juve in the Italian Cup midweek, stay bottom of the division after an unfortunate defeat, their fifth in seven matches.
Furious Napoli supporters launched flares onto the pitch at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino during the latest embarrassing loss which left them languishing in ninth place and came via goals from Antonio Sanabria, Nikola Vlasic and Alessandro Buongiorno.
Last season’s historic Scudetto has now been forgotten as Napoli sink further into the abyss with each passing week, their third defeat in four matches in all competitions fully deserved after a shambolic display in Turin.