18-year-old Turkish sensation Kenan Yildiz announced his arrival on the Juventus stage in emphatic style, scoring his first goal for the club on his full debut in their 2-1 victory over Frosinone.
With Chiesa sidelined, Yildiz was handed a golden opportunity, and he grabbed it with both hands.
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In the 12th minute, he showcased his dazzling footwork, weaving past three defenders before burying a shot inside the near post. The Bianconeri’s joy was short-lived, however, as Jaime Baez equalized for the hosts six minutes after the break with a clinical finish.
But Juve refused to be denied, and it was another substitute, Dusan Vlahovic, who emerged as the hero with a powerful header in the 81st minute, settling the nerve-wracking encounter.
Yildiz had been pushing for a bigger role in the team after being linked with a January move to Arsenal.
The rising star also scored in his first start for the Turkish national team last month in the 3-2 away win over Germany in an international friendly.
Yildiz scored against his country of birth and is expected to join Turkiye at Euro 2024.
The win puts Juve within a point of Inter Milan at the top of the table, leaving Frosinone heartbroken despite their spirited home performance.
Having only lost once at home all season, the Canarini were buoyed by their midweek Coppa Italia win over Juve, but ultimately found their resilience matched by the visitors’ determination.
Yildiz’s audacious debut goal was the standout moment, a glimpse of the talent lurking beneath the surface.
With Chiesa’s return on the horizon and Yildiz emerging as a potential star, Juve look poised to challenge for the Scudetto.
Frosinone, despite the disappointment, can take heart from their spirited performance and look to build on their strong home form in the second half of the season.
This rewrite maintains the key information of the original but focuses on the game’s narrative, highlights Yildiz’s impactful debut, and adds a touch of emotional weight to the close encounter.