Kenan Yildiz Drowns Vlahovic In Champions League

Juventus player Kenan Yildiz (right) celebrated a goal in the Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven. (X/@juventusfc)

JAKARTA - Juventus young star Kenan Yildiz managed to steal the show when he beat PSV Eindhoven 3-1 in the first match of the Champions League. Performance Yildiz drowned senior striker Dusan Vlahovic at the Allianz Stadium, Wednesday, September 18, 2024, early morning WIB.

Juve returned to enlivening the Champions League after a season absence. Yes, UEFA imposed sanctions on Juve for violating UEFA and Financial Fair Play (FFP) kub licenses.

Meski Juve membantah melakukan pelanggaran, UEFA tetap menghukum klub Serie A Italia itu tidak boleh tampil di turnamen Eropa.

This season, Juve returned to compete in the Champions League after the sanctions ended. In the first match with a new format, the Bianconeri immediately showed their best performance by beating PSV, the Dutch elite Eredivisie team.

PSV is definitely not a light opponent. The club started the domestic competition with perfect points aka always won during the first five matches. However, PSV did not move at all when facing Juve.

Yildiz, the young star of the Turkish national team, stole the attention of the match. The reason is, he opened the team's victory in the 21st minute. Yildiz successfully completed the assist from Nico Gonzalez.

At the age of 19 years and 136 days, Yildiz set a club record. He became the youngest Juve player to ever score a goal in the Champions League.

Unmitigated, Yildiz broke the record for Juve legend Alessandro del Piero, the former La Vecchia striker... who became Yildiz's idol. He even always sticks out his tongue when celebrating goals, which Del Piero also did.

Del Piero scored in European tournaments at the age of 20 and 308 days in 1995. At that time, he broke into Borussia Dortmund's goal.

Furthermore, midfielder Weston McKennie solidified Juve's lead after beating goalkeeper Joel Drommel who replaced Walter Benitez before the game started. Benitez had to return to the Netherlands because his wife gave birth.

Gonzalez confirmed Juve's win after scoring in the 52nd minute. His goal was inseparable from Vlahovic's role in providing a slick assist for the Argentine national team striker to finish.

Meanwhile, Ismael Saibari scored his only PSV goal in injury time. The goal changed the score to 3-1 for Juve.

Despite winning, Vlahovic became a player who looked upset. In fact, he looked emotional when he failed to score.

Vlahovic not only drowned with Yildiz's brilliant performance which was later selected as Man of The Match, but more than that. The failure to score goals disappointed him.

Moreover, he actually got two chances that failed to be converted into goals. For the third time in a row, this Serbian national team striker has not been able to score a goal.

"The leaves are always in the best condition during training or competing. I like his hard work," Motta said in response to his players to Sky Sport.

"In this match, he did not score a goal. It is true that strikers always want to score goals. He does have ambitions. However, things that must be considered, he must be able to control his emotions," he said.

"When a striker can't score a goal, he also has to think there's something else to do in that game. If that's done, then the goal itself will be created," said Motta, who replaced Massimiliano Allegri.

Motta showed his satisfaction with the team's victory. According to him, these results are very important because Juve started the European tournament with a win. They are also unbeaten in various competitions.

"I'm satisfied with this win. Of course it means a lot. However, we still have to improve ourselves. The success of the opponent scoring goals makes me a little worried."

"It must be admitted, PSV made it difficult for us. However, I'm sure we can do even better in possession," said Motta.

"We are on the right track and start the competition by winning it. Now we have to be able to continue," he said.

After winning over PSV, Juve will play two Italian Serie A matches against leaders, Napoli and Genoa. Furthermore, Juve played an away match against RB Leipzig in the Champions League.