Juventus return to winning ways thanks to a big assist from the post

MILAN (AP) — Juventus returned to winning ways but needed significant help from the post.

The Bianconeri won 2-0 at Udinese after an own goal from home goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and a strike from Nicolo Savona, with the ball bouncing off the right post just before both goals.

It was only Juventus’ second win in six matches in all competitions and they moved up to third place ahead of the rest of the weekend. He is four points behind Serie A leaders Napoli, who host fourth-placed Atalanta on Sunday.

Udinese remain seventh and could be overtaken by AC Milan if the Rossoneri win at Monza later on.

Only two points separated Udinese and Juventus from the start of the match.

Juventus took the lead in the 20th minute thanks to great play from Hefren Thuram, who raced into the box and beat a defender before firing home from close range. The ball bounced off the far right post and into Okoye’s back.

It would be the first goal in Italy for Thuram, the younger brother of Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram.

Udinese had several chances to equalize before Juventus doubled their lead in the 37th.

The same post played a role again when Kenan Yildiz finished off a shot from almost the same spot and Savona tapped in on the rebound.

Udinese thought they had clawed their way back into the match early in the second half, but Keinan Davies’ effort was promptly blocked as he pushed Juventus defender Federico Gatti, causing him to crash into goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.

Lewis Ferguson is back

Bologna welcomed club captain Lewis Ferguson back 203 days after his ACL injury and the midfielder helped the team to their first home win before he was ruled out.

There was a standing ovation when Ferguson was brought off in the 82nd minute and again when he touched the ball for the first time seconds later. There were also banners in the stands welcoming his return.

And Ferguson scored the only goal of the match to help Bologna beat Lecce 1-0 for their first home win in seven months. He opened up play from the left, where Riccardo Orsolini headed into the far bottom corner with five minutes remaining.

Ferguson, who was key to Bologna’s impressive campaign last season, required surgery afterwards injured his knee playing against Monza April 13, excluding the Scottish midfielder also from the European Championship.

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