Milik gives Juventus last-gasp victory over Cremonese

Mueez Ajao

– A last-gasp Arkadiusz Milik free kick gave Juventus all three points after a dramatic game where Cremonese hit the woodwork twice and Marco Carnesecchi performed heroics.

– The Bianconeri ended 2022 with six consecutive Serie A victories, but started 2023 missing Angel Di Maria, Dusan Vlahovic, Leonardo Bonucci, Paul Pogba, Mattia De Sciglio, Juan Cuadrado and Kaio Jorge, so started youth team players Matias Soulé, Fabio Miretti and Nicolò Fagioli. Cremonese were still without a win this season, plus Vlad Chiriches, Ionut Radu and Christian Acella injured.

– There was a banner before kick-off cheering on Gianluca Vialli, former Cremonese and Juventus striker who is currently undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.

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– It was a strong start from the hosts, Cyriel Dessers sprinting forward for a shot deflected wide by Gleison Bremer, then his volley was over the bar.

– Emanuele Valeri had the ball in the net on 15 minutes by anticipating Wojciech Szczesny with a looping header that Bremer failed to clear off the line, but the offside flag was up.

– Bremer grazed his head to a Filip Kostic free kick at the far post and Marco Carnesecchi got his fingertips to two Matias Soule efforts from the edge of the box.

– When the goalkeeper was left rooted to the spot, he watched Fabio Miretti’s looping finish skim the crossbar and a viciously dipping Kostic strike grazing a coat of paint off the far post.

– Carnesecchi parried a powerful Fabio Miretti attempt and on the resulting corner Fabio Gatti blasted just wide, while Federico Chiesa hit the side-netting.

– However, Cremonese came closest with Dessers on the half-volley smacking a shot against the upright with Szczesny beaten.

– Carnesecchi was again alert on Adrien Rabiot’s half-volley, but there was chaos on the resulting corner with first an extraordinary save on Moise Kean from point-blank range, then Valeri running the length of the pitch on the counter to test Szczesny.

– Cremonese hit the upright again, this time with a cross-shot down the right from Felix Afena-Gyan striking the near post.

– Kostic tried to set up Arkadiusz Milik rather than go for goal himself, which was probably the wrong choice, when found by an inspired Rabiot pass.

– Carnesecchi had his gloves stung by a Kean rocket, but he was finally beaten in stoppages by a remarkable Milik free kick from distance that dipped viciously at the last moment, going in off the inside of the upright.