Alessandro del Piero of the All Stars tackles Martin Caceres of Juventus during the match between the A-League All Stars and Juventus. Photo / Getty Images
Alessandro del Piero of the All Stars tackles Martin Caceres of Juventus during the match between the A-League All Stars and Juventus. Photo / Getty Images
Italian league champion Juventus staged a strong second half rally to win 3-2 over A-League All Stars, led by Alessandro Del Piero, in a pre-season friendly Sunday at Sydney's Olympic stadium.
Fernando Llorente, Paul Pogba and Simone Pepe scored second half goals as the 'Old Lady' came from behind twiceagainst an A-League team which had goals from Marcelo Carrusca and Tomi Juric.
Juventus started with a near full-strength line up, including Italian internationals Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo, Argentine Carlos Tevez, and France stars Patrice Evra and Pogba, but the visitors struggled to break through until late in the second half.
Del Piero, who is currently without a contract for the 2014-15 season after two years at Sydney FC, was substituted after 63 minutes to warm embraces from former Juventus team mates and a standing ovation from the 55,000 crowd.
The 39-year-old Italian spent 19 seasons at the Turin-based club and holds club records for most goals (289) and most appearances (705).
The hosts took a 1-0 lead on 10 minutes when Carrusca slotted past Buffon, before Juventus equalized at the start of the second half when new signing Evra crossed for Llorente to head past 'keeper Eugene Galekovic.
Substitute striker Tomi Juric gave the hosts a 2-1 lead in the 76th but Pogba leveled for Juventus with a stunning volley in the 85th, before substitute Pepe blasted home the winning goal in injury time.
