Juventus 0-1 Stuttgart: Toure snatches deserved late win

By Sports Desk October 22, 2024

El Bilal Toure's stoppage-time strike helped Stuttgart claim an impressive 1-0 win at Juventus in the Champions League, handing the hosts their first loss of the season.

The German side, who won their first game in the competition so far, finally got their reward in the 92nd minute through the substitute, having had a goal chalked off and a penalty saved.

Stuttgart had been more aggressive, with Ermedin Demirovic hitting the post in the first half, while an in-form Mattia Perin, who was by far the Italian side's best player, kept Juventus in it.

The visitors saw Deniz Undav's effort disallowed early in the second half for handball by the Germany striker before late drama unfolded. 

Anthony Rouault was fouled by Danilo, who picked up a second yellow card for the challenge in the 84th minute when a VAR check resulted in a penalty. Stuttgart wasted that golden chance though, with Perin saving Enzo Millot's spot-kick.

Ultimately, Toure's intervention ended a four-match winless run in all competitions for Stuttgart. Juve stay on six points and Stuttgart have four.

Data Debrief: Motta's unbeaten run halted

Juventus were unbeaten across all competitions this season under Thiago Motta, and it seemed luck was on their side before Toure snatched the three points. 

It looked like Perin had saved a point, as he became just the third Juventus goalkeeper to save a penalty in a Champions League match since 2003-04, after Wojciech Szczesny (v Valencia in September 2018) and Gianluigi Buffon (v Lyon in October 2016).

Motta was looking to become just the third Juve manager to win his first three matches in the competition, but instead will be left disappointed by a lacklustre performance from his side.

Meanwhile, it was just a fourth win in their last 20 Champions League matches for Stuttgart and a first in this campaign for Sebastian Hoeness' men. 

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    Juventus head coach Thiago Motta was critical of his team for making too many mistakes at both ends of the pitch in their 2-2 draw with Parma on Wednesday.

    The draw saw them drop to fourth in the Serie A table, with the gap to leaders Napoli now seven points. It was also the second straight game in which they had to come from behind to avoid defeat.

    But while the 4-4 draw with Inter on Sunday was seen as a point gained, this was two dropped according to Motta.

    "I think today we conceded too many restarts. At their goal kicks, we were trying to bring the defender out to then be able to press and cause an error, but we didn't succeed," he told DAZN after the match.

    "In the defensive phase we made a lot of mistakes."

    Forward Dusan Vlahovic missed a brilliant chance inside the six-yard box, but failed to convert. Motta was unwilling to dig out his striker, but did suggest his entire team have to be better at converting chances after having 16 efforts on goal.

    "We have to have balance and control of the game. Today we did well until the last two metres, but in the end we have to do better," he said.

    "We created danger on the counter and we have to continue like this. 

    "But we have to improve in bringing our team into the opponent's half, in finishing and not letting the opposition restart."

    Timothy Weah supplied an assist and a goal to twice get Juventus back level in this match, but was later replaced by Inter hero Kenan Yildiz, who had scored twice to level at the weekend. The Turkey international almost scored a winner in added time and Motta was pleased with the output of both.

    "Weah played well at San Siro and again today, scoring," Motta told Sky Sports.

    "Kenan coming on later, with the game more open, is an ideal player to create situations. He has freedom in the final metres, it was normal today to want to open things up against such a closed team."

  • Glenmuir High blank Ocho Rios High 3-0 to extend rich form; Munro edge champions Clarendon College 2-1 Glenmuir High blank Ocho Rios High 3-0 to extend rich form; Munro edge champions Clarendon College 2-1

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    The victory, featuring goals from Orane Watson (18th), Nyron Allen (79th), and Nuemonie Blackwood (86th), extended Glenmuir’s impressive run in the competition. They sit comfortably atop the zone on six points, three points ahead of Ocho Rios and Dinthill Technical, while Happy Grove remains pointless, heading into Saturday’s final round of games.

    Coach Andrew Peart praised his team’s discipline as they reinforced their status as serious contenders in this year’s daCosta Cup.

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    From the opening whistle, Glenmuir displayed confidence and cohesion, controlling the tempo of the game with crisp passes and quick transitions against a disciplined Ocho Rios defence. They went close in the fourth minute when Brandon Wallace got on target, but his effort was blocked on the line.

    Ocho Rios responded immediately after with a brisk counterattack, but Keanu Reid’s effort was charged down by a recovering defender.

    Glenmuir continued to press and again when Dusting Cohen found space inside the 18-yard box for a right-footed effort, which was denied by Maleek Martin’s outstretched leg.

    However, their offensive persistence paid off in the 18th minute when Watson scored his 23rd goal of the season from the penalty spot after captain Ja-Son Whyte was taken out inside the red zone.

    Ocho Rios, undeterred, mounted an attempt to level the score and should have done so in the 28th, but Reid, who had a clear look on goal, fired his effort high and wide, as Glenmuir remained 1-0 up at the break.

    Glenmuir picked up where they left off on the resumption and had another close shave in the 52nd when Whyte’s shot from a distance was deflected and kissed the upright on the way out.

    They eventually doubled the lead in the 79th minute, when Whyte struck another shot from distance that came off Allen’s back, leaving Martin well beaten.

    Ocho Rios, struggling to keep up with Glenmuir’s Blackwood’s left-footer from way out, bettered Martin at his near post four minutes from time.

    Head coach Veron Peterkin acknowledged that his Ocho Rios team was outplayed on the day.

    “We made some little errors here and there and it cost us the game, but to be fair, Glenmuir had the better game and came out on top. When we had our chances we just weren’t decisive enough, so it was just one of those games,” he said.

    Wednesday’s results

    Munro College 2, Clarendon College 1

    Glenmuir 3, Ocho Rios 0

    McGrath High 1, Manchester High 0

    Frome Technical 1, Cornwall College 0

    Central High 1, Denbigh 0

  • Martin wants Southampton to keep on smiling Martin wants Southampton to keep on smiling

    Russell Martin is hopeful his Southampton players can use their midweek EFL Cup win to provide some momentum when they take on Everton. 

    The Saints have picked up just one point from their first nine games back in the Premier League ahead of Saturday's visit of Everton to St Mary's. 

    All three of Southampton's wins so far this season have come in the EFL Cup, most recently beating second-tier Stoke City 3-2 on Tuesday. 

    Despite only just scraping through thanks to a late winner after squandering a two-goal lead, Martin wants it to be used as a springboard to push on in the league. 

    "We need to celebrate every victory as a group," Martin said. "Whether it's against a Championship team in the cup, a Premier League game, you have to enjoy those moments together. 

    "The guys were a bit annoyed coming in, they didn't look very happy, so I reminded them they're allowed to smile. By the end they are smiling and the music was on. Hopefully we can carry that on on Saturday." 

    Everton are eight points better off than bottom-place Southampton in 16th, having recovered from a slow start by collecting nine points across a five-game unbeaten run. 

    The Toffees were far from their best in last weekend's clash with Fulham at Goodison Park, but Beto came off the substitutes’ bench to rescue a last-gasp 1-1 draw. 

    And that spirit to fight until the end is something manager Sean Dyche wants to see more of from his side as they prepare for their trip to England's South Coast. 

    "I thought we were short of where we have been against Fulham," he said. "On the other hand, the balance of football is it lasts for 90-plus minutes. I have asked the players for relentlessness and I thought that was on show. 

    "We weren't playing our best, but we found a way to get something from the game. Over a season, it is important to keep getting something from games in the Premier League." 

      

    PLAYERS TO WATCH  

    Southampton - Jan Bednarek  

    Bednarek has started all nine of Southampton's games in the Premier League this season and also started the midweek cup win over Stoke. 

    While he boasts the second-most completed passes (691) of all players in the division this season, he is currently on the longest run of starts without winning a game (22) since Jonny Evans between April 2017 and January 2018 (28 games). 

      

    Everton - Ashley Young 

    Young has managed to prove his doubters wrong with recent performances, which includes three assists in his past five Premier League appearances - as many as he had across his previous 124. 

    The full-back is one of three players to have assisted as many as three goals after turning 39 years of age, along with Teddy Sherringham and Ryan Giggs. 

    MATCH PREDICTION - DRAW 

    Southampton are without a win in their past 22 Premier League matches - only Derby County (32) and Sunderland (26) have even endured longer runs. 

    Should the Saints lose this weekend, they will equal Sheffield United's unwanted record for the fewest points (one) after the first 10 games of a Premier League season. 

    Everton, meanwhile, are five league games without defeat after losing their previous five, making this their best-such run since between August and October 2022 under Frank Lampard (six games). 

    The Toffees have lost five of their last seven top-flight games away at Southampton, though, albeit the most recent such trip ended in a 2-1 win in October 2022. 

    One further glimmer of hope for Southampton is that they have won 13 Premier League home games against Everton - against no side have they won more often on home soil (also 13 wins versus Newcastle United). 

     

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY 

    Southampton - 37.5% 

    Everton - 36.2% 

    Draw - 26.3%

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