Kenan Yildiz came off the bench to inspire Juventus in an extraordinary comeback from two goals down, salvaging a thrilling 4-4 draw against Inter Milan at a charged San Siro on Sunday.
The result was a blow for both teams’ title hopes as it allowed Napoli to stretch their lead in Serie A to four points.
The 19-year-old Turkish sensation entered the fray with about 30 minutes remaining, when Juve trailed 4-2 and the game seemed out of reach.
The San Siro, packed with over 70,000 passionate Inter fans, was electric as Denzel Dumfries had just slotted in Inter’s fourth goal in the 53rd minute, a goal that looked to seal their victory and make a strong Scudetto statement.
However, Yildiz had other ideas. His two exquisite finishes in the final 20 minutes shocked the home crowd, reviving Juventus and showcasing his potential on Italy’s grandest stage.i
He is quick footwork and deadly accuracy turned what appeared to be a definitive Inter victory into an unexpected draw, keeping Juve’s title dreams alive.
Inter, sitting in second place, will rue missed opportunities, as Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s beautiful early strike and two penalties from Piotr Zielinski gave them a commanding first-half lead. Dumfries’ low shot soon after halftime seemed to put the game beyond Juve’s reach.
Yet Juve’s resilience under pressure ensured they remain just a point behind their arch-rivals.
With Napoli taking advantage of both teams’ slip-up, Sunday’s clash might prove pivotal in the Scudetto race. And for Yildiz, this stunning performance will mark him as one to watch in Italian football.
