Two late goals from Mario Mandzukic
and Alvaro Morata pushed Juventus to a 2-1 comeback victory over Manchester
City at the Etihad Stadium.
City looked in control at the Etihad
Stadium after taking a controversial 57th-minute lead when Giorgio Chiellini
turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Vincent Kompany.
But Manuel Pellegrini's men paid the
price for failing to convert a series of other chances as Juve hit back with a
Mario Mandzukic finish and a stunner from Alvaro Morata.
It was yet another example of City
failing to deliver on the biggest stage, and a surprise given the form of the
two sides coming into the game.
Juve, last season's Champions League
runners-up and Serie A champions for four successive years, had failed to win any
of their opening three games while City had won five in a row without
conceding.
But without star striker Sergio
Aguero -- who made a surprising late appearance off the bench having initially
been ruled out with a knee injury -- City lacked a cutting edge.
Raheem Sterling lost an early chance
after Fernandinho robbed Stefano Sturaro. The former Liverpool man opened his
body and tried to place his shot inside the far post but veteran Gianluigi
Buffon saved with his feet.
It was some time before City threatened
again as Juventus gained a grip with £70 million-rated Paul Pogba -- a reported
target for City last summer -- strong in possession and on-loan Chelsea winger
Juan Cuadrado looking dangerous.
Pogba slid the ball into the net
from a Cuadrado cross but Morata was flagged offside. City had a good spell as
Fernandinho won the ball from Pogba and fired over before Aleksandar Kolarov
sent a free kick across goal.
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