13 August 2014
On the team’s final day in Australia, Massimiliano Allegri took the opportunity to run the rule over his players’ condition during a 70-minute friendly, with A-League outfit Newcastle Jets providing the opposition at Jubilee Oval.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between throughout the encounter, won 1-0 by the Bianconeri courtesy of Sebastian Giovinco’s first-half strike.
Summer recruit Kingsley Coman looked lively in the opening stages, showing some neat touches and skills in the final third and drawing a save from the opposition goalkeeper on 11 minutes .
However, it was his strike partner, Giovinco, who put the Bianconeri in front ahead of the midway point, ghosting past his marker before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner on 26 minutes.
While the Australians pushed to get back into the affair, it was Juventus who remained in firm control. Neither Storari nor his replacement Rubinho were troubled by any efforts from inside the area, while Simone Pepe and Sergio Buenacasa both had chances to extend the lead in the second half.
With the curtain now officially brought down on their Australian adventure, the Bianconeri will return to their hotel tonight before departing for the third and final leg of this summer’s Asia-Pacific tour, Singapore, tomorrow morning.
Juventus starting XI: Storari (Rubinho), Motta, Marrone, Chiellini, Pepe, Pereyra, Padoin, Vitale (Blanco), Asamoah, Giovinco, Coman (Buenacasa).
