Juve Need Additional Time 'Help' To Depak Genoa From The Italian Cup

Juventus celebrate victory over Genoa (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Juventus need extra time to get rid of Genoa by a score of 3-2 in the last 16 match of the Italian Cup which was played at the Allianz Stadium, Turin, local Wednesday or Thursday morning WIB.

The Bianconeri took a two-goal lead through goals from Dejan Kulusevski in the second minute and Alvaro Morata in the 23rd minute.

Surprisingly Genoa was able to get up and equalize through goals from Lennart Czborra in the 28th minute and Filippo Melegoni in the 74th minute.

Juve was only able to lock the victory through Hamza Rafia's goal in the 105th minute, Antara noted on the official FIGC website.

In the quarter-finals, Juve will face Sassuolo or SPAL.

Ninety seconds was enough for Juve to break the deadlock, when Giorgio Chiellini sent Kulusevski the through ball to effortlessly convert into a goal.

Genoa goalkeeper Alberto Paleari then had to thwart Wesley's effort, and had to hold back Kulusevski's strike to prevent him from scoring a second.

But the Genoa goal was again conceded when Kulusevski dribbled into the penalty box, and the Swede sent the ball for Morata to finish for the second goal.

Genoa then scored with their first chance. A cross from the right can be greeted by Czyborra's header to break into the host's goal.

Federico Bernardeschi forced the Genoa goalkeeper to make another save, and Arthur scored against the visitors. But the goal was not passed because Morata was already in an offside position.

Manolo Portanova also scored for Juve but was again denied for offside.

Morata's shot was then blocked by goalkeeper Paleari, but Genoa almost equalized when Marco Pjaca's strike hit the crossbar.

As time went on Juve lost intensity and Genoa were able to equalize to 2-2. Melegoni's kick from outside the penalty box slides smoothly into the top corner of the goal.

Juve coach Andrea Pirlo put Cristiano Ronaldo in the final phase of the match to add to his team's pounding power.

Ronaldo gets a free kick, but it goes over the bar.

Juve's striving to restore the new advantage created in extra time.

Substitute Rafia welcomes Morata's low cross despite initially failing to control the ball. It was Rafia's first goal for Juve.

Genoa didn't give up and came close to scoring against Juve with an Ivan Radovanovic header, but Arthur was able to clear the ball before crossing the line.

Kulusevski also had the chance to seal Juve's win when he intercepted Rovella's pass, but goalkeeper Paleari was able to knock the ball over the crossbar.

FT | ⏱ | INTO THE COPPA QUARTERS !!! 💪🏆🇮🇹 # JuveGenoa #CoppaItalia #ForzaJuve pic.twitter.com/rNDsD188z8

- JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) January 13, 2021

The composition of players according to the official FIGC page:

Juventus (4-4-2): Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini (Leonardo Bonucci 64 '), Merih Demiral (Danilo 64'), Federico Bernadeschi, Radu Dragusin, Wesley (Cristiano Ronaldo 88 '), Manolo Portanova (Hamza Rafia 77' ), Rodrigo Bentancur (Adrien Rabiot 46 '), Arthur, Dejan Kulusevski, Alvaro Morata

Coach: Andrea Pirlo

Genoa (3-5-2): Alberto Paleari, Daniel Dumbravanu (Darian MAles 97 '), Mattia Bani, Edoardo Goldaniga, Lennart Czyborra, Filippo Malegoni, Nicolo Rovella, Lukas Lerager, Paolo Ghiglione, Marko Pjaca, Gianluca Scamacca

Coach: Davide Ballardini