Weston McKennie marked his Juventus return with a confidence-boosting UEFA Champions League goal.
McKennie iced the Bianconeri’s 2-0 league phase victory over Manchester City by scoring his third goal of the season in all competitions. The U.S. men’s national team midfielder came off the bench and volleyed home Tim Weah’s cross to give Thiago Motta’s squad an insurance tally in Turin.
“It was a big moment for the team with the situation we have been in,” McKennie said. “We wanted to come out and do the best we could. We knew Man City could punish us with one action and we knew what type of game it was going to be and we wanted to win this game to boost our confidence.”
Dusan Vlahovic propelled Juventus in front in the 53rd minute, giving them a 1-0 advantage after halftime.
Both McKennie and Weah came off the bench in the 69th minute and wasted little time in getting in on the action. Weah’s cross from the right wing was volleyed home by a wide-open McKennie for a 2-0 Juventus lead.
Juventus would hang on for a crucial three points in its quest to advance to the knockout round.
McKennie, who missed Juventus’ last three matches due to muscle fatigue, logged 21 minutes in his return. Weah also played out the final 21 minutes.
“McKennie, for example, has played a great game, he has an unusual physicality and technical qualities that allow him to be dangerous in insertions,” Motta said postmatch about McKennie’s performance. “It’s lucky to have players like that.”
Juventus will continue Serie A play on Saturday against Gianluca Busio and Venezia.
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