Milan, Aug 25 (AP) - In a strong start to the Serie A season, Canada forward Jonathan David found the net in his debut for Juventus, paving the way for a 2-0 victory over Parma.
Jonathan David, who made a move to Juventus in July on a free transfer following the expiration of his five-year contract with Lille, was instrumental from the start.
The match saw Juventus reduced to ten men when Andrea Cambiaso was sent off with seven minutes to play, but substitute Dusan Vlahovic quickly increased the lead in the closing stages.
"It's everything I hoped for," remarked David, who left the field to a standing ovation when replaced by Vlahovic in the 80th minute. "It was the first game of the season and the fans brought an amazing atmosphere, pushing us forward.”
The 25-year-old David, who previously scored 25 goals and provided 12 assists in 49 matches across all competitions for Lille last season, emphasized the win’s importance. "I'm happy to score in my first game, but the most important thing is the three points.”
As Canada's all-time leading scorer with 36 goals in 67 appearances, David noted, “The target is to help the team as much as I can. If it's by scoring goals, getting assists, running back, defending, I will do everything.”
Juventus, initially struggling in the first half, was dominant post-interval. They broke the deadlock in the 59th minute, with David getting ahead of his marker to convert Kenan Yildiz's cross.
Yildiz was also pivotal in Juventus’ second goal during a swift counterattack, setting up Vlahovic, who received the ball on the right before finishing the move himself.
This followed shortly after Cambiaso was red-carded for retaliating against Mathias Løvik.
In other league news, Pisa returned to Serie A after a 34-year absence, securing a commendable 1-1 draw at Atalanta.
Pisa, runners-up in last season’s Serie B, took an early lead in Bergamo in the 26th minute, when a cross from Idrissa Touré found Samuele Angori. The ball was inadvertently bundled over the line by Atalanta defender Isak Hien.
Facing their first game post-Gian Piero Gasperini, following his departure and replacement by Ivan Juric, Atalanta transformed post-halftime.
Gianluca Scamacca equalized just five minutes after the break, continuing to threaten with a near-second off the crossbar in the 58th minute.
In an iconic Serie A moment, Como, led by Cesc Fabregas, began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Lazio, marked by a historic VAR announcement.
Nico Paz, who assisted the opening goal, also scored a sublime free-kick in the 73rd minute.
Lazio saw an apparent equalizer disallowed by VAR for offside, with referee Gianluca Manganiello pioneering a new Serie A tradition by announcing the decision live to the stadium.
Elsewhere, in dramatic fashion, Sebastiano Luperto scored in stoppage time, rescuing a 1-1 draw for Cagliari at home against Fiorentina. (AP) PDS PDS
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