Dusan Vlahovic shot Juventus to within one point of Serie A leaders Inter Milan with the decisive strike in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Frosinone.
Serbia forward Vlahovic headed home the winner with nine minutes remaining at the Stadio Benito Stirpe after Jaime Baez had equalised for the hosts following Kenan Yildiz’s opener early in his first Juve start.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side now await the result of Inter’s home clash with Lecce later on Saturday, which Inter have to face without injured star striker Lautaro Martinez and Italy left-back Federico Dimarco.
This is why I keep backing Vlahovic (even tho, right now it’s simply not good enough).• He’s overall play has absolutely improved• Even tho he’s finishing has regressed a little, he’s still scoring great goals. Elite finishing vs Lazio & Inter• He fights like hell.•… pic.twitter.com/gKDgmuvqgP
— SundayLeagueCoach (@sunday_coach) December 21, 2023
Vlahovic, who has had a tricky season, is now on six league goals and was unlucky to end the match without a brace when his precision 89th-minute strike was ruled out for offside.
“There was the desire to win, to help the team and make the fans happy in that goal,” Vlahovic told DAZN.
“A striker is obviously not happy when they don’t score, or not consistently, but I work hard every day to give something to the team.”
Teen starlet Yildiz become Juve’s youngest ever foreign Serie A goalscorer with his stunning near-post finish, which came after he weaved his way past three defenders.
Germany-born Yildiz, 18, a reported target for Arsenal and Liverpool, came in for injured Federico Chiesa and said he now has to take his teammates out to dinner to celebrate.
“For me, this is too great, thanks to everyone. To the fans, they are crazy, look at them!” he said.
⚪️⚫️ Wonderful goal on his first start for Juventus today vs Frosinone.✨ Wonderful goal on his first start for Turkish national team last month.
Kenan Yildiz, 18 years old — on fire.
New deal signed until June 2027, great move by Juve two months ago. pic.twitter.com/qZ0qNC4g3k
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 23, 2023
The one negative note for Juve was Alex Sandro and Manuel Locatelli both suffering injuries.
Alex Sandro had to leave the field midway through the first half with cramp, the Brazilian defender already having missed most of the season with a hamstring injury.
It was Frosinone’s first defeat at home since they lost to Napoli in the first week of the season. They hammered the Italian champions 4-0 in the Italian Cup in midweek.
Eusebio Di Francesco’s side are 14th on 19 points, seven points above the relegation zone.
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