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Juve top MLS All-Stars on penalty kicks

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Juve top MLS All-Stars on penalty kicks
Juve top MLS All-Stars on penalty kicks
Juve top MLS All-Stars on penalty kicks

Forward Andrea Favilli continued his fine form and the Bianconeri were perfect in the penalty shoot-out to take a third consecutive win in the 2018 Summer Tour Powered By Jeep topping the MLS All-Stars.

In front of a raucous, sold-out crowd of 72,312 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the Bianconeri struck first through a familiar source as Andrea Favilli found the back of the net for the third time on the summer tour. Matheus Pereira swung in a cross from the left side that Favilli deftly headed into the back of the net past goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Buoyed by the stunning crowd, the MLS All-Stars pushed for the equalizer and found it in the 26th minute. Wojciech Szczesny saved the initial effort, but after a scramble in the box, Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez bundled the ball in to score in front of his home crowd.

The MLS All-Stars nearly took the lead in the 39th minute as the ex-Juve man Sebastian Giovinco’s cross found Ezequiel Barco at the far post, but Szczesny was there to produce a sprawling save to keep the match level into the half-time break

Just moments into the second half, substitute Mattia Perin was called into action as Alberth Elis was free on the right side, but the summer signing was up to the task denying the Honduran from close range.

As the match reached the final 15 minutes, Medhi Benatia was twice called upon, denying two Diego Valeri efforts that were destined for goal. In the 83rd minute, Juve nearly took a late lead as Leandro Fernandes let fly from over 30 yards out with the effort fizzing just over the bar.

The match would finished tied 1-1 and for the second consecutive pre-season match, the winner would be decided by penalty kicks. In the fourth round, Bradley Wright-Phillips would send his effort off the post while Mattia De Sciglio scored the fifth penalty for the Bianconeri to make it a perfect five for five in the shoot-out and win the MLS All-Star Game for Juventus.

With three wins from three matches, Juventus will look to make it a clean sweep of the tour on Saturday night against Real Madrid at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C.

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