Late Vlahovic header rescues draw for Juventus against Bologna

Soccer Football - Serie A - Empoli v Juventus - Stadio Carlo Castellani, Empoli, Italy - May 22, 2023 Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic reacts REUTERS/Massimo Pinca Acquire Licensing Rights

Aug 27 (Reuters) - Juventus bounced back from a lacklustre first half to secure a 1-1 home draw against Bologna in Serie A on Sunday, thanks to a late equaliser from Dusan Vlahovic.

Ten minutes before stoppage time, the Serbian international directed a header from 12 yards into the far bottom corner after a cross from Samuel Iling-Junior.

Before the break, Juventus struggled to create significant chances and were met with boos from their home fans as they made their way to the locker room.

"It was a game of two halves. We told the team they had a very good second half, but perhaps we were too eager to make a big impression on home turf and over-did it," assistant manager Marco Landucci told DAZN as head coach Massimiliano Allegri was not feeling well.

"We were so eager to win that we risked losing it in the end. We took risks and we knew that we would, but sometimes that works better than others. It is a good point and we go forward."

Bologna got the first real chance of the match after 23 minutes, but Dan Ndoye's low shot from an angled drive was far too weak to beat Juventus keeper Mattia Perin.

Only a minute later, Bologna's Lewis Ferguson sent shockwaves through a soggy Allianz Stadium as the Scottish midfielder found the space to guide the ball into the far bottom corner from inside the box, courtesy of a pass from Joshua Zirkzee.

Vlahovic believed he had initially secured the equaliser for the hosts eight minutes after the break. However, the goal was disallowed following a VAR review.

"Dusan played very well, moved very well, and when a striker is less frenetic, he is more effective," Landucci added.

Bologna keeper Lukasz Skorupski pulled off an impressive save to deny Juventus' Timothy Weah.

The visitors missed a chance to double the score when Zirkzee's shot was parried into Ndoye's path but a collision with Iling-Junior went unpunished after a VAR review, leaving Bologna coach Thiago Motta furious and with a yellow card for dissent.

Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk

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