Football
Associated Press and ESPN staff 10y

Juve edge past A-League All Stars

Juventus staged a strong second-half rally to win 3-2 against an A-League All Stars side, led by Alessandro Del Piero, in a preseason friendly on Sunday at Sydney's Olympic stadium.

Fernando Llorente, Paul Pogba and Simone Pepe scored second half goals as the 'Old Lady' twice came back from a goal down against an A-League team whose goals came from Marcelo Carrusca and Tomi Juric.

Juventus started with a near full-strength line up, including Italy internationals Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo, Argentine Carlos Tevez, and France stars Patrice Evra and Pogba, but the visitors struggled to break through until late in the second half.

Del Piero, currently without a contract for the 2014-15 season after two years at Sydney FC, was substituted after 63 minutes to warm embraces from former Juventus teammates and a standing ovation from the 55,000 crowd.

The 39-year-old Italian spent 19 seasons at the Turin club and holds records for most goals (289) and most appearances (705) for them.

The hosts took a 1-0 lead on 10 minutes when Carrusca slotted past Buffon, before Juventus equalized at the start of the second half when new signing Evra crossed for Llorente to head past 'keeper Eugene Galekovic.

Substitute striker Tomi Juric gave the hosts a 2-1 lead in the 76th minute, but Pogba levelled for Juventus with a stunning volley in the 85th before substitute Pepe blasted home the winning goal in injury time.

Spanish champions Atletico Madrid cruised to a 5-1 win over German side Wolfsburg.

Raul Garcia headed the opener from a corner on 13 minutes, and the 28-year-old fired home a second on 54 minutes.

Summer signing Mario Mandzukic smashed home a penalty soon afterwards before Naldo reduced the deficit with a deflected free kick.

Atletico instantly restored their three-goal cushion with Koke's wonderful shot into the top corner, and Hector Hernandez completed the rout with a simple finish on 83 minutes.

Atletico saw Mario Suarez knocked unconscious during the first half and he has been taken to hospital for tests.

Inter Milan fell to a 3-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Roben Botta rounded off a neat team move midway through the first half to put Inter ahead, but the lead lasted barely a minute as Lucas Piazon punished some slack defending.

Haris Seferovic, a new signing from Real Sociedad, scored in the 33rd and 39th minutes to give the Bundesliga side victory.

Lazio also went down to a 3-1 loss in Germany as they took on Hannover.

Marcelo headed Hannover in front on 21 minutes, and Lars Stindl doubled their advantage before the break.

Cristian Ledesma pulled one back from the penalty spot on 66 minutes after Keita Balde Diao had been fouled, but Stindl completed his brace to ensure the victory.

Last season's Serie A runners-up Roma thrashed SV Eltendorf 5-0 in Austria.

Despite dominating, the Italians were only 1-0 up at the break through Gervinho's tap-in on 35 minutes.

In the second half, though, Michele Somma and Francesco Totti netted two goals apiece to add gloss to the scoreline.

Fiorentina, meanwhile, claimed a 2-0 victory over Malaga.

Giuseppe Rossi opened the scoring after only five minutes, and Gonzalo Rodriguez doubled their advantage a quarter of an hour later.

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