Juventus claimed a pre-season victory over Serie A rivals Roma in the final game of the International Champions Cup this evening, after earning a 5-4 win on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Both sides started with an impressive intensity and it was Roma who almost drew first blood, as loanee winger Gregoire Defrel swung a perfect cross into the box for Edin Dzeko, but the frontman was unable to find the required touch to divert the ball past Gianluigi Buffon.
Juventus newcomer Mattia De Sciglio settled into the game effectively and he combined well with Juan Cuadrado on the right flank, who was able to pick out a teasing ball for the run of Mario Mandzukic, leaving the striker to send his effort wide at the back post.
The Old Lady continued to impress in the opening half and they earned themselves a lead in the 29th minute, when full-back Alex Sandro caught the Roma backline asleep before threading a ball in behind for Mandzukic, who rounded Alisson in order to give Juve an advantage.
Both managers made a number of changes at half time, but it was Juve who came out of the traps quickest, as Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala combined perfectly, before the latter saw his finish ruled out for offside.
Roma responded in earnest as they pushed forward on the break, leaving playmaker Kevin Strootman to take aim from distance only to see his standout effort cannon back off the crossbar.
The changes continued to come in Massachusetts and they threatened to take the sting out of the encounter, with both sides labouring to find their rhythm after the hour mark.
It looked as though Juve might just end the ICC tournament with a second victory under their belts, but Dzeko had other ideas as he profited from Aleksandar Kolarov's cross 15 minutes from time in order to send the game into a penalty shootout.
Juventus eventually won out on penalties, though, as Marco Tumminello missed Roma's first spot kick, before Massimiliano Allegri's charges went on to convert all five of their attempts to seal the win.
Christopher Dodd
