Sassuolo’s 3-2 victory over Juventus became one of those late Sunday chapters that lingers beyond the final whistle: a loan player, Vasilije Adzic, returning to punish his parent club in the 94th minute after Juventus had twice dragged themselves level.
The coach and the club
Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus chose the risk of a final push for victory, with a young side committing bodies forward after an extraordinary late exchange of goals. It brought two equalisers from Edon Zhegrova, but it also left the field open for Sassuolo’s decisive counterattack.
For Zhegrova, the evening seemed set to belong to him. Introduced during the second half, the Kosovan immediately offered sharp dribbling and a more direct threat, while forming a useful connection with Alajbegovic on the left. The latter carried considerable confidence in his work down the flank, though he was often left without enough support.
Yet the lasting image belonged to Adzic. Juventus had sent him to Sassuolo on loan in the summer, and he found himself unmarked at the end of a break with no Juventus defender between him and goal. His finish settled a match that had appeared to be turning in Juventus’s favour.
A match that changed after the interval
The opening half had already promised an open contest. Both teams found routes forward, Nico González sent an effort narrowly over the bar, and Sassuolo captain Domenico Berardi repeatedly caused problems around the Juventus area. Despite the chances and the space available to both attacks, the score remained 0-0 at half-time.
The precision missing before the break arrived in the final 30 minutes.
- Berardi tested Vicario with a dangerous attempt before Sassuolo took the lead in the 65th minute, when Esposito finished calmly from close range after finding himself free in the area.
- Juventus increased the pressure, sending a succession of balls into the Sassuolo box. Muric held firm in goal until Zhegrova collected possession, shaped to shoot and levelled the score in the 82nd minute.
- As Juventus sought a winner, Bremer’s poor positioning allowed Bowie to break free and restore Sassuolo’s advantage in the 89th minute.
- Zhegrova responded almost immediately, striking with his left foot to make it 2-2 in the 91st minute.
- Juventus continued to chase a third goal, but Adzic completed Sassuolo’s counterattack in the 94th minute to decide the game.
Adzic writes the final line
Juventus had shown character to recover twice, and Zhegrova’s contribution gave their comeback real force. But the pursuit of a winning goal came with a cost. Sassuolo recognised the final opening, and Adzic supplied the conclusion against the club that still owns his contract.
It was a painful ending for Juventus, particularly after the promise of Zhegrova’s double, but a defining night for Sassuolo and for the young Montenegrin midfielder whose late intervention changed the shape of the championship weekend.
SEO title: Sassuolo 3-2 Juventus: Adzic strikes against parent club
SEO description: Vasilije Adzic scored in the 94th minute as Sassuolo beat Juventus 3-2, despite two late goals from Edon Zhegrova.
