'Lucky' late Morata strike seals Juventus last-16 berth
Alvaro Morata said he “got lucky” after he grabbed a late winner, with Cristiano Ronaldo also scoring, as Juventus qualified for the Champions League last 16 with a 2-1 victory over Ferencvaros on Tuesday.
Myrto Uzuni had given the Hungarians a shock 19th-minute lead in the Group G clash in Turin.
But Ronaldo rifled in the equaliser on 35 minutes for his first Champions League goal this season, extending his record to 131 goals in the competition.
And Morata came off the bench to seal victory two minutes into injury time with his fifth group-stage goal this term.
“Today I think I was lucky on the goal, but no one remembers luck, everyone remembers the goal and that’s it,” said the Spaniard.
“It was a complicated game, that’s how it is in the Champions League now.”
Andrea Pirlo has achieved his first objective as Juventus coach having taken over from Maurizio Sarri after the Italians crashed out of the Champions League in the last 16 to Lyon last season.
The Portuguese, who missed the first two European games this season with coronavirus, brought his tally to 70 Champions League goals at home, level with Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
He was denied a second before the hour mark, with Federico Bernardeschi also going close just after, rattling the woodwork.
Pirlo made a triple substitution after the hour with Morata, Federico Chiesa and Dejan Kulusevski coming on place of Dybala, Bernardeschi and Weston McKennie.
Morata had an immediate impact, sending the ball through for Ronaldo but Dibusz held firm.
The Spaniard missed a chance 10 minutes from time, hitting the woodwork after meeting Chiesa’s cross.
But the former Atletico Madrid striker got his head to a Cuadrado cross, with the ball slipping in under Dibusz.