SAINTS under-21’s settled for a 1-1 stalemate against Juventus in their Premier League International Cup opener on Tuesday night.
Princewill Ehibhatiomhan found the net with an inventive finish in the first half before substitute Davide Marchisio equalised after the interval.
Boss Adam Lallana made three changes from the side that edged an 11-goal thriller with Boston United a week previously, with senior goalkeeper George Long among the starters.
In the seventh minute, in-form striker Ehibhatiomhan received the ball from Sufianu Sillah Dibaga and produced an exquisite flick into the far corner to open the scoring.
Two minutes later, Harry Gathercole headed a golden opportunity to double the lead just wide of the post from close range following Sillah Dibaga’s cross.
The hosts brought strong physicality to the match with Barnaby Williams and Aston Daley putting in several big tackles to win the ball back from a big Juventus outfit.
Midway through the half, Christian Yeboah found himself one-on-one with Long, but the first-team keeper was equal to the 17-year-old’s finish and kept his team in front.
A minute later, Gathercole found space on the edge of the box to fire a low effort at Sebastiano Nava, which the Italian stopped.
Ehiobhatiomhan rattled the post 10 minutes before the break after a brilliant run from Sillah Dibaga who spun his defender, drove into the box and dragged the ball back to his forward.
Nava produced a fine close-range save to deny Ehibhatiomhan eight minutes into the second half, palming a powerful effort into the side-netting to concede a corner.
Substitute Aleksander Przytarski almost made an instant impact when he met a corner at the back post with his first touch of the ball, but his skimmed header trickled harmlessly wide.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, substitute Marchisio struck a phenomenal effort past a helpless Long into the top-right corner to level the match.
Long produced a good save with his feet to stop Jacopo Del Fabro turning the game on its head after the substitute poked an effort from inside the six-yard box.
The hosts continued to press for a winner with efforts from Gathercole and Daley, but Juventus stood firm to record a draw.
The result sits Saints fifth in their tournament group after the first match in a disappointing result given the chances they enjoyed in the first half.
Saints U21’s: Long, Adjei-Afriyie, Day, Kayi Sanda ©, Anderson (Sewell, 64’), Daley, Williams (Kakay, HT’), Akachukwu (Little, 81’), Gathercole, Sillah Dibaga (Charles, 81’), Ehibhatioman
Unused subs: McNamara, Whittaker, Gbajumo
Juventus U21’s: Nava (Giaretta 81’), Gnikpingo, Precupanu ©, De Brul, Sylla (Marchisio, 58’), Rocchetti, Repciuc (Del Fabro, 71’), Yeboah, Okolo (Przytarski, 58’), Brancato, Maria (Michelis, 81’)
Unused subs: None
