The Malta Independent on Sunday
Ronaldo scores 2 as Juventus fights back to beat Empoli 2-1
Juventus missed Mario Mandzukic and Giorgio Chiellini. It got by with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo scored twice as Juventus came from behind to win at relegation-threatened Empoli 2-1 yesterday and maintain its unbeaten start in Serie A.
Ronaldo has seven goals in 10 matches, and four in four since being accused of rape in the United States last month.
Kathryn Mayorga filed a civil lawsuit in Nevada claiming Ronaldo raped her in his Las Vegas hotel room in 2009. Police reopened an investigation into the allegation at her request. Ronaldo denies any wrongdoing.
Following a midweek win at Manchester United in the Champions League, Mandzukic was out injured along with Emre Can and Sami Khedira. Juventus was dealt another blow when defender Chiellini limped out of the warmup and was replaced in the starting lineup by Daniele Rugani.
In Chiellini’s absence there were gaps in the defence, and Empoli took advantage, scoring within half an hour. Afriyie Acquah surged and put the ball into the box, where a deflection took it into the path of Caputo, who curled a delightful effort into the far side of the net.
The goal was only Empoli’s second in nine matches against Juventus in Serie A.
Juventus appeared renewed after the break and it levelled nine minutes in when Ronaldo con- verted a penalty after Ismael Bennacer fouled Paulo Dybala.
Ronaldo scored what was to prove the winner in the 70th. He collected the ball from Blaise Matuidi, took a couple of steps and looked up then fired a stunning strike into the top left corner from 20 yards out.
Juventus moved seven points clear of second-placed Napoli, which hosts Roma today.
FREE-SCORING ATALANTA
Josip Ilicic continued to impress as he helped Atalanta beat Parma 3-0.
Ilicic netted a Serie A hat trick last week at Chievo Verona, ending a nine-match winless streak in all competitions for Atalanta. The Slovenia midfielder didn't score this time but was at the heart of Atalanta's good play.
Atalanta’s first goal was a re- bound of an Ilicic strike, and the third came from his corner kick. He then hit the crossbar.
1-1 DRAW IN TURIN
Torino and Fiorentina shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in the evening match.
Both goals came early in the first half. Benassi opened the score for Fiorentina after just 2 minutes, and Torino levelled it on 13 minutes through a Lafont own goal.