adminMILAN. — An injury-time header from Spain striker Fernando Llorente rescued misfiring Juventus in a 1-0 win over Udinese that sent the champions three points clear of Roma in Italy’s Serie A on Sunday. Early season pacesetters Roma had spurned the chance to regain top spot earlier when Rudi Garcia’s men had to settle for their fourth draw in succession, 1-1 away to Atalanta.
Juve seized the chance to widen the gap, but missed an embarrassing amount of chances before Llorente secured the points after heading Stephan Lichsteiner’s shot past Zeljko Brkic in second-half injury time.
Juve’s 12th win of the season – their sixth consecutively, all with clean sheets – leaves them three points clear of Roma with Napoli in third, a further six points adrift, ahead of their trip to Lazio when Fiorentina, in fifth, also host Verona.
Conte told Sky Sport Italia: “Picking up a point or taking none would not have changed a thing for us, but taking three does.
“All games are important. If we hadn’t beat Livorno (last week) we wouldn’t have had the chance to pull ahead today.
“Let’s not forget, Roma had a five-point cushion not so long ago.”
Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin said: “Losing in the 91st minute is terrible, but that’s football.
“We’re disappointed and bitter and I’m really sorry for the players because they gave it everything out there.” Juve suffered an early blow when midfielder Andrea Pirlo was forced off with an apparent knock to his knee, to be replaced by Paul Pogba, but the hosts should have gone in for the half-time interval several goals to the good. Carlos Tevez was a constant threat and tested Brkic throughout although Juve survived a scare on the half hour when defender Leonardo Bonucci lost possession to Antonio Di Natale, who saw goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon halt his cheeky lob. — AFP.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter