On Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022 Dusan Vlahovic spent only 31 – seconds in order to score a goal that demonstrated to Europe why Juventus decided to go with him to fill the void that was previously left by the great footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The striker from Serbia, Vlahovic, had a debut straight out of a dream during the Champions League match on Tuesday, as Dusan scored a mesmerizing goal following his first touch with the football in Juventus’ 1 to 1 draw at Villarreal.
Vlahovic’s goal had all of the components of a strike that only players like Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and another select few footballers are able to pull off as it combined power, elegance, and that extra helping of confidence that makes all of the difference. Dusan lit the net like no other early on in this contest.
After using his chest to drop and control the very long pass from Danilo, the 22 – year – old forward wasted no time as he did not hesitate to instantaneously take on the center – back pair of Pau Torres and Raúl Albiol. He used one quick touch so that he could gather the presence to prepare his well – thought – out shot that Dusan took with his weaker right – foot as he spun toward to face the goal as he hit nothing but net. The seemingly effortless attempt barely grazed the foot of a Villarreal defender prior to squeezing in at a fine – angle that beat the goalkeeper, Gerónimo Rulli.
That score happened to be his 2nd – goal with Juve since that club committed to his 70 – million – euro ($80 million) transfer from Fiorentina around the end of the January 2022 transfer window in order to fill the void of one of the game’s best scorers in Ronaldo, who’s exit fromuv Juventus occurred just months prior to the last European football offseason.
“It was huge to score on my debut. It was very emotional,” Dusan Vlahovic explained. “However, I cannot be 100 % satisfied because we have not won the game.”
Dani Parejo equalized for Villarreal during the 66th – minute, leaving the playoff set for the decider in Italy with the away – goal rule removed this season.
After Vlahovic’s opening goal score, Villarreal tied in order to respond through their speed on the wings. Alfonso Pedraza came up with a big steal of the ball as he sped from the left side of the box prior to him passing off for Giovani Lo Celso, only for his weak shot to hit the top of the left post during the 13th – minute of game action last Tuesday.
Vlahovic also made quite the impression on the crowd with his talented ability to pull down very long passes from his teammates as he demonstrated in the 1st – half of this exciting game. Parejo’s 66th – minute equalizing goal occurred right after Albiol made it his ultimate assignment to begin disallowing that outlet.
Following Albiol meeting the challenge to win a ball from Juve’s newest striker in the Italian squad that deceived its defensive pedigree when it allowed Etienne Capoue time to pick out a run up – field by his fellow midfielder Parejo. Juventus’ backline intensified that blunder by leaving Parejo free without a marker as he fired a low shot tying the match at 1 to 1 last Tuesday.
“When they score in the first minute, it ruins your game plan. But even so, we knew how to hang in there and go for the match,” Dani Parejo stated. “To draw 1 – 1 after starting from behind, I am satisfied with how we played and the chances we created against a giant like Juventus.”
Vlahovic nearly fabricated the game – winner with only minutes remaining in the contest with a strong shot that Rulli was not able to stop very well, but it was a huge save non the less.
The midfielder from the United States of America, Weston McKennie, needed to be substituted for by Juventus’ side during the 80th – minute following him receiving a hard slide – tackle into his lower left side by Villarreal’s substitute in Pervis Estupiñán.
In Tuesday’s other Champions League match from London, England the defending champion Chelsea got 2 – goals from both Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz in order to defeat Lille with a final tally of 2 to 0.
Juventus is presently trying to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the 1st – time since the 2018 – 2019 football season following them losing during the round – of – 16 over the last 2 – football seasons.
Unai Emery has Villarreal, who was last year’s Europa League champion, back in the knock – out rounds of Europe’s elite club competition (Champions League) for the 1st – time in 13 – years.
The Spanish League club is in hopes to have their very talented striker in Gerard Moreno, who is currently injured, back for the 2nd – leg in Turin, Italy on Wednesday, March 16th, 2022.
Sources:
The Associated Press News Services. “Vlahovic scores in CL debut, Juve draws 1 – 1 at Villarreal”. The Associated Press. February 22, 2022.