Juventus, Fiorentina draw halted after Dusan Vlahovic chants

Updated: Dec 29, 2024, 04:35 pm

A last-gasp goal by forward Riccardo Sottil earned Fiorentina a 2-2 draw at Juventus in Serie A on Sunday after Khephren Thuram scored twice for the hosts.

Discriminatory chants aimed at Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic by visiting Fiorentina fans prompted a two-minute suspension during the first half of a Serie A match on Sunday, but play resumed after an announcement warning the match could be called off.

Vlahovic, a Serbia international who played for Fiorentina before transferring to Juventus three years ago, appeared to tell the referee about the chants. The ref then stopped play, gathered the teams and ordered a warning announcement to be made over the stadium's public address system.

Thuram put Juventus in front after 20 minutes, sending the ball low inside the near post after an impressive solo run, before Fiorentina's Moise Kean levelled ahead of the break with a header.

Thuram restored the lead for Juve three minutes into the second half, scoring into the far bottom corner from close range but Sottil equalised for Fiorentina in the 87th minute with a powerful, close-range volley.

Juventus remained sixth in the standings, level on 32 points with fifth-placed Fiorentina.

Fiorentina goalkeeper David De Gea denied Vlahovic from restoring the lead for the hosts shortly before the break.

Juventus and Fiorentina players come together during a pause in their Serie A match on Sunday.
Juventus and Fiorentina players come together during a pause in their Serie A match on Sunday.
Getty Images

The Spanish keeper required medical assistance after stopping the shot with an outstretched arm.

Thuram put Juventus back up when he scored his second goal of the night following halftime, after a low pass by Teun Koopmeiners was deflected off a Fiorentina player inside the box.

But the visitors did not settle and Sottil eventually sealed one point with a stunning shot that sailed into the roof of the net.

Thiago Motta's side have drawn 21 games in 2024 in Serie A, and only Perugia in 1979 have drawn more matches (22) in a single calendar year in the history of the competition.

Juve next face AC Milan in the semifinals of the Italian Super Cup on Jan. 3, with a potential final three days later against the winner of Inter Milan and Atalanta.

They return to league action on Jan. 11 in a derby clash at Torino. Fiorentina, who have a game in hand, host Napoli in Serie A on Jan. 4.

Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this story.