Home Sports Ronaldo salvages derby draw after Sanabria double

Ronaldo salvages derby draw after Sanabria double

by editor

Cristiano Ronaldo salvaged a 2-2 Serie A draw for Juventus after Antonio Sanabria’s double threatened to secure a shock derby win for struggling Torino.

Federico Chiesa’s 13th goal of the season put the champions in front, but Sanabria equalised before the break and struck again just 15 seconds into the second half at Olimpico Grande Torino.

Ronaldo denied Torino when he levelled 11 minutes from time with a goal that was initially ruled out, but a VAR checked showed he was onside.

Rodrigo Bentancur struck the post as fourth-placed Juve slipped up again following their shock loss to Benevento and they will be 12 points adrift of leaders Inter if Antonio Conte’s side beat Bologna later on Saturday.

Salvatore Sirigu spread himself to keep out Alvaro Morata’s scuffed shot before Chiesa fired over the crossbar in a strong start from Juve.

Torino thought they should have had a penalty for Matthijs de Ligt’s challenge on Andrea Belotti and they were behind when Chiesa struck in the 13th minute.

The Italy winger played a one-two with Morata and fired home with his left foot after bursting into the penalty area at full tilt.

Torino responded well to going behind and were deservedly level after 27 minutes, when Rolando Mandragora’s rasping long-range drive was saved by Wojciech Szczesny but Sanabria reacted first to nod home the loose ball.

Sanabria was celebrating again when he put Juve in front in the first minute of the second half, with Szczesny at fault as he was beaten at his near post by a left-foot strike from the Paraguay forward after Dejan Kulusevski gave the ball away with a sloppy pass.

Sirigu produced a fine fingertip save to keep out Ronaldo’s towering header before the Portugal forward failed to hit the target when he got on the end of an inviting cross from Danilo.

Ronaldo somehow failed to finish from close range when Juan Cuadrado fired across the face of the goal as Torino appeared poised to hang on for a precious win.

But Ronaldo finally nodded in when a Giorgio Chiellini volley came into his path, racing back to the centre circle with the ball after VAR ruled he was just onside, and Bentancur almost put Juve in front with a shot that deflected against the woodwork in the 84th minute.

Sanabria came close to a hat-trick in the closing stages with a header that was saved by Szczesny and the Juve goalkeeper palmed away Daniele Baselli’s free-kick in a frantic finale.

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