Contributed by Steven Torres
Italian side Juventus FC topped SL Benfica of Portugal, 4:2 on penalty kicks after a 1:1 draw, on Saturday, during the annual exhibition club competition - International Champions Cup (ICC), before crowd of 24,194, Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.
After a scoreless first half, Spanish defender Alex Grimaldo scored off a free kick in the 65th minute to give the 36-time Portuguese champion, Benfica, the lead.
With six minutes remaining, midfielder Luca Clemenza, who came in as a substitute in the 72nd, notched the equalizer for 34-time Italian champion, Juventus.
The encounter went to penalty kicks to determine the winner of this ICC match.
Italian midfielders Nicolo Fagioli, Stefano Beltrame, Brazilian defender Alex Sandro and German midfielder Emre Can all scored their respective penalties for 2-time UEFA Champions League winner, Juventus. Meanwhile U.S. midfielder Keaton Parks and Greek defender Andreas Samaris had only pk tallies for Benfica as Brazilian forward Jonas and Portuguese midfielder Joao Félix had their shots saved by Italian goalkeeper Mattia De Sciglio.
Benfica concludes its participation at ICC 2018 on August 1st when it hosts Olympique Lyonnais of France at Algarve Stadium in Faro. Meanwhile Juventus will take on an MLS All-Star Team on Aug. 1st in Atlanta, Ga., before it ends its U.S. tour with an ICC encounter, three days later, against Real Madrid of Spain at FedExField in Landover, Md.
International Champions Cup 2018
07.28.2018: Harrison, N.J.; Red Bull Arena (A: 24194)
SL BENFICA (POR) – JUVENTUS FC (ITA) 1:1 (0:0), 2:4 pen
Alex GRIMALDO 65’ – Luca CLEMENZA 84’
Keaton PARKS (G), JONAS (SV), Andreas SAMARIS (G), Joao FÉLIX (SV) – Nicolo FAGIOLI (G), Emre CAN (G), Stefano BELTRAME (G), Alex SANDRO (G)
SL Benfica: Odisseas Vlachodimos – André Almeida (67: Tyronne Ebuehi), Germán Conti, Jardel (46: Alfa Semedo), Alejandro Grimaldo (67: Yuri Riberio), Gedson Fernandes (82: Andreas Samaris), Lubomi Fejsa (67: Keaton Parks), Pizzi (46: Rúben Dias), Eduardo Salvio (67: Rafa), Facundo Ferreyra (41: Nicolás Castillo) (67: Jonas), Franco Cervi (67: Joao Felix). Booked: Parks 82’
TD: Rui VITÓRIA
Juventus FC: Wojciech Szczesny (46: Mattia De Sciglio) – Mattia Caldara (62: Andrea Barzagli), Joao Cancelo (62: Nicolo Fagioli), Giorgio Chiellini (46: Daniele Rugani), Pietro Beruatto (46: Alex Sandro), Miralem Pjanic (46: Emre Can), Sami Khedira (63: Medhi Benatia), Claudio Marchisio (62: Leandro Fernandes), Andrea Favilli (62: Stefano Beltrame), Federico Bernardeschi (72: Luca Clemenza), Matheus Pereira. Booked: none
TD: Massimiliano ALLEGRI
R: Jose Carlos RIVERO (USA)
Written by Steven Torres