Juventus 1 - 1 Torino: Higuain saves point for Juve but title must wait

Posted Sunday, May 07, 2017 by PA

Gonzalo Higuain's stoppage-time goal earned Juventus a 1-1 draw with Torino but the two dropped points meant they must wait at least another week to secure the Serie A title.

Juve had won every game at home so far this season, but went behind to their city rivals in the second half after Adem Ljajic's sublime 25-yard free-kick.

Afriyie Acquah was sent off shortly before the hour mark, and coach Sinisa Mihajlovic was sent to the stands following protests before a much-changed Juventus finally drew level thanks to Higuain's 24th league goal of the season.

Allegri made eight changes to his side following the 2-0 win over Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday, with one eye undoubtedly on the upcoming second leg, but the changes backfired in a disjointed performance.

The Bianconeri started on the front foot and had the first opportunity to break the deadlock after just 11 minutes.

Paulo Dybala's cross found Leonardo Bonucci inside the area, but the centre-back was put off and failed to test Joe Hart in the Torino goal.

Bonucci missed another golden chance minutes later after Mehdi Benatia crashed a header onto the underside of the bar. The ball rebounded to his defensive partner, who volleyed over from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

Torino struggled to get out of their half for much of the first period, with Iago Falque and Andrea Belotti both failing to trouble the goalkeeper.

Mario Mandzukic flicked over from close range before Hart was called on to make a good save from a Stefan Lichtsteiner half-volley, and again from Dybala after a fine piece of interplay with Mandzukic.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 52nd minute after Kwadwo Asamoah was harshly adjudged to have handled. Ljajic stepped up to curl a precise free-kick right into the corner and leave keeper Neto with no chance.

Mandzukic missed the chance to level barely two minutes later as he slid the ball past the far post after being played in by Sami Khedira, who later skied a volley over from close range.

The game changed when Acquah was shown a second yellow card in the 57th minute despite winning the ball, forcing Torino to sit deep and play on the break.

Bonucci could not force a low cross past Hart and when Tomas Rincon headed wide, it looked as though the ball would not go in for the league leaders.

However Higuain stepped off the bench to fire the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the area in stoppage time and keep Juve eight points clear of Napoli as they seek a sixth straight title.