ROME: Jonathan David made a goalscoring start to his Serie A career on Sunday, netting the opening goal in Juventus’ straightforward 2-0 win over Parma.
Canada striker David guided home from Kenan Yildiz’s low cross in the 59th minute to send Juve on their way to three points at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
“It was everything I hoped for… I’m happy to score in my first game. But the most important thing is the three points,” said David to DAZN.“The target is to help the team as much as I can. If it’s by scoring goals or getting assists or running back and defending, I will do everything.”
The 25-year-old was brought in as a free agent to help boost an attack which had for too long been let down by misfiring Dusan Vlahovic, and David showcased the goalscoring instincts which made him a hero at Lille.
But it was Vlahovic, who is reportedly on the transfer list at Juve, who made sure of the win near the end of an uninspiring contest when he tapped home another Yildiz pass from close range with six minutes remaining.
Vlahovic netted moments after Andrea Cambiaso was given a straight red card for lashing out at Mathias Lovik after battling for the ball with the Norwegian defender.
Juve were also boosted by the solid return of key defender Gleison Bremer who missed most of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Earlier, Como hinted at another strong season in Serie A after seeing off Lazio 2-0 with a performance typical of a club on the rise under Cesc Fabregas.
Goals in each half from Tasos Douvikas and starlet Nico Paz, the latter a stunning free-kick in the 73rd minute, were enough for Como to take all three points at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.
Como finished 10th last season after reaching the top flight for the first time in over two decades and the ambitious lakeside club invested heavily in the summer.
Financial backing from tobacco giant Djarum means Como will be a force to be reckoned with this term, and they would have won by a bigger margin had Mergim Vojvoda’s powerful strike not smashed off the crossbar four minutes after Paz’s strike.
Lazio are under a transfer ban until January for not respecting Serie A’s financial requirements and were second best all evening.Sebastiano Luperto’s thumping header salvaged a point for Cagliari in the fourth minute of stoppage time to give the the Sardinian outfit a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina. – AFP
