Last-gasp Kean puts Juventus on course for Champions League
Juventus' Moise Kean in action with Sassuolo's Mert Müldür, Reggio Emilia, Italy, April 25, 2022. (Reuters Photo)


A late goal by Moise Kean gave Juventus an important 2-1 victory over Sassuolo in Serie A on Monday, consolidating its place in the Serie A top four and closing the gap on third-placed Napoli to just one point.

Sassuolo had done more than enough to claim a share of the points when Kean struck two minutes from full time.

A long ball out of defense from Leonardo Bonucci ended with Kean, a 67th-minute substitute for Alvaro Morata, turning Vlad Chiriches and firing the ball between goalkeeper Andrea Consigli's legs at the near post.

The last-gasp win keeps Juve in the fourth place, eight points adrift of leaders AC Milan but, perhaps more significantly, eight points clear of Roma, who is chasing the final Champions League spot.

It was a frustrating loss for Sassuolo who was the better team for most of the game, posing problems from the outset when Davide Frattesi's header at the near post from a Domenico Berardi corner kissed the crossbar on its way over.

Gianluca Scamacca was also sharp, forcing Juventus keeper Wojciech Szczesny into a fine save.

Juve's first real attack almost brought reward when Paulo Dybala thought he had found the net, only for Frattesi to block at the last moment.

Sassuolo broke the deadlock for a deserved lead in the 39th minute.

Morata lost possession in midfield and Berardi produced a delightful backheel to send Giacomo Raspadori clear.

Raspadori's powerful shot gave Szczesny no chance, but Juve was level on the stroke of halftime.

Dybala made light of an awkward angle to thrash the ball into the roof of the net despite Sassuolo's claims that Morata fouled Giorgos Kyriakopoulos in the build-up.

That set the stage for Kean's last-gasp heroics as Juve consolidated its place in the top four.