Eighth goal of season rescues point for Turin side
Che Adams warmed up for World Cup duty with Scotland by rescuing a point for Torino with a late equaliser against Juventus in the Turin derby on Sunday evening.
The striker was named on the bench for the end-of-season clash at the Olympic Grande Torino Stadium but was introduced after 56 minutes with his team 2-0 down to a Dusan Vlahovic double.
Within four minutes Torino had pulled a goal back through half-time substitute Cesare Casadei before Adams completed the comeback with a deflected effort six minutes from time.
Che Adams celebrates scoring a late equaliser for Torino against Juventus at the Olympic Grande Torino Stadium. (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Che Adams celebrates scoring a late equaliser for Torino against Juventus at the Olympic Grande Torino Stadium. (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
The goal was Adams’ eighth of the season in Serie A, and strengthened the 29-year-old’s case to be part of Steve Clarke’s starting line up for the opening World Cup match against Haiti on June 14.
The derby clash kicked off one hour behind schedule due to clashes between ultras which left a Juventus fan in hospital in a critical condition. When authorities decided that the game would still go ahead, Juventus supporters left the stadium, leaving the away end empty.
The home fans were silenced when Vlahovic broke the deadlock on 24 minutes with a deflected strike. The Serbian international made it two early in the second half with a first-time shot.
Torino coach Roberto D’Aversa turned to his bench and Italy international Casadei brought the hosts back into the game with a header from a corner kick.
The equaliser also came from corner as Casadei won another header which was saved, with the ball rebounding to Adams whose first-time volley found its way into the net via a deflection to spark wild scenes as the Scotland striker leapt over the advertising boards in celebration.
This draw means Juventus miss out on Champions League qualification after finishing sixth in the standings while Torino end the campaign in 12th.