Jonathan David’s shameful penalty cost Juventus three points

Juventus and Lecce played out a 1–1 draw in their Serie A Round 18 clash.

Juventus went into the break trailing but had a perfect chance to complete the comeback. That opportunity was squandered by “the Old Lady” striker Jonathan David, who took a dreadful penalty and allowed Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone to save it. Falcone, along with opening goalscorer Lameck Banda, emerged as Lecce’s heroes on the night.

With the draw, Juventus remain fifth in the table on 33 points, while Lecce sit 16th with 17 points.

Juventus were the far better side in the first half, creating chance after chance. David, McKennie, Cambiaso and Locatelli all tried their luck, but an outstanding Falcone and a slice of good fortune kept the visitors in the game.

Then, out of nowhere in first-half stoppage time, Lecce took the lead. A costly mistake by Cambiaso gifted the ball to Lecce forward Lameck Banda, who produced a superb finish to find the back of the net.

Juventus responded quickly after the break, equalising just four minutes into the second half. Following a move down the right involving Locatelli and Zegrova, the ball was switched to the opposite flank to Kenan Yildiz. The Turkish winger fired a shot, and the rebound fell straight to Weston McKennie, who scored from close range to make it 1–1.

The Old Lady had their best chance to turn the match around in the 66th minute, when a handball by Lecce midfielder Kaba inside the penalty area resulted in a spot kick. Jonathan David stepped up, but his poorly taken penalty was saved by Falcone, who preserved the draw.

Juventus came closest to a winning goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, when Kenan Yildiz struck the post, with Falcone once again beaten but spared by the woodwork.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 18

Friday

Cagliari - Milan 0-1 (0-0)

/Leao 50/

Saturday

Como - Udinese 1-0 (1-0)

/De Cunha 18(p)/

Genoa - Pisa 1-1 (1-1)

/Colombo - Leris 38/

Sassuolo - Parma 1-1 (1-1)

/Thorstvedt 12 - Pellegrino 24/

Juventus - Lecce 1-1 (0-1)

/McKennie 49 - Banda 45+1/

Atalanta - Roma IN PROGRESS

Sunday

14.30: (3.30) Lazio (3.10) Napoli (2.35)

17.00: (1.80) Fiorentina (3.60) Cremonese (5.10)

20.00: (2.65) Verona (3.05) Torino (2.90)

22.45: (1.43) Inter (4.50) Bologna (7.50)

***odds are subject to change***