Carpi 2 - 3 Juventus: Mario Mandzukic nets brace as Juventus continue revival with Carpi win
Posted Sunday, December 20, 2015 by PA
Juventus maintained their charge up the Serie A table with a 3-2 victory at Carpi.
The champions, who started the season sluggishly, have now won seven games in succession as goals from Mario Mandzukic (two) and Paul Pogba won it at the Stadio Alberto Braglia.
The visitors trailed to a goal from former loan player Marco Borriello - but hit back to lead by half-time thanks to Mandzukic's double.
Pogba found the target after the break, before Leonardo Bonucci's injury-time own goal set up a tense finish.
Carpi absorbed plenty of early pressure but broke away to take the lead with their first purposeful move in the 15th minute when Borriello - on loan with the Bianconeri in 2012 - beat Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon at his near post.
However, the visitors were level three minutes later when Mandzukic neatly controlled a loose ball and fired in on the turn, after Sami Khedira had seen a shot saved by goalkeeper Vid Belec.
Claudio Marchisio, Giorgio Chiellini and Sami Khedira went close, before Mandzukic doubled the lead in the 41st minute, rising highest to head home Patrice Evra's cross from six yards.
It was 3-1 in the 50th minute when Marchisio's long ball over the top picked out the run of Pogba, who chested the ball down before beating Belec.
Substitute Daniele Rugani had an effort ruled out for offside in the 63rd minute, before Carpi rallied.
The strugglers pulled a goal back in stroppage-time when Bonucci turned on-loan Juve midfielder Luco Marrone's cross into his own net.
And the hosts would have snatched an unlikely and undeserved point seconds later had Lorenzo Lollo showed more composure in front of goal.
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