Football news - Ronaldo brace gives Juve contentious win over unlucky Samp
ByReuters
Updated 29/12/2018 at 15:35 GMT
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace, the second goal a contentious penalty, to give Juventus a dramatic 2-1 win over Sampdoria who had a stoppage-time equaliser chalked off following a long VAR review in Serie A on Saturday.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Image credit: Getty Images
Riccardo Saponara thought he had given Sampdoria a point when he curled a delightful shot past Mattia Perin and was booked for throwing off his shirt as he celebrated.
But, after a delay of nearly three minutes, referee Paolo Valeri ruled that there had been an offside in the buildup.
Leaders Juve reached the season's halfway mark with 53 points out of a possible 57, a Serie A record for a 20-team championship.
Ronaldo gave Juventus the lead after two minutes, collecting Paulo Dybala's pass and cutting inside to score with a low shot.
Fabio Quagliarella levelled in the 33rd minute, scoring for the ninth league game in a row when he converted a penalty awarded after a VAR review when the ball hit the back of Emre Can's outstretched arm as he jumped for it.
Juve's winner also came for a handball although the ball only brushed Alex Ferrari's arm which did not appear to be outstretched.
The referee immediately pointed to the spot but Ronaldo had to wait more than two minutes to take his kick while the incident was reviewed on the pitchside monitor.
The Portugal forward took his tally to 14 goals, making him Serie A's top scorer.
Sampdoria coach Marco Giampaolo described Juve's penalty, awarded for handball by Alex Ferrari, as absurd.
"The penalty given to Juventus was a present," he said. "We can talk about this until the day after tomorrow but you can't give a penalty like that, otherwise every Sunday will turn into a mess; that handball decision was absurd."
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said he believed his side needed 37 more points from their remaining 19 games to make sure of an eighth successive title.
"VAR is an important instrument," he said. "There were two penalties, both awarded with the use of VAR; one confirmed and one under a review. Looking at it that way, it was either both or neither. In Italy, we create too many controversies."
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