Football: Sporting Hold Off Juventus, Win 2-1

Sporting Lisbon were the slicker, stronger side against Juventus at Toronto's BMO Field on Saturday night, earning a 2-1 victory in the latest instalment of the 2011 World Football Challenge. A Yannick Djalo double gave Sporting some breathing room and, though a sublime Alessandro Del Piero chip set up a nailbiting finish, the Portuguese side held on.

Juventus, fielding a string of summer buys, including Andrea Pirlo and Reto Ziegler, have plenty of work ahead as new boss Antonio Conte gets to grips with the challenge in front of him. His team created few openings but threatened through Milos Krasic on the right flank in the first half. Winger Elio De Silvestro looked dangerous in the second half too.

At the other end, the lively Sporting front line caused serious headaches for the Bianconeri back four. Yannick's first goal came via a corner on the right as he fired home from Ogucci Onyewu's knockdown while his second was a fine strike into the far corner, giving Gianluigi Buffon no chance in the Juventus goal.

Juventus made a string of changes at half-time, sending on strike pairing Luca Toni and Del Piero. Neither team really gained the upper hand in the second half but both kept the ball with ease and logged valuable pre-season minutes.

Del Piero breathed life back into the game late on with a classy chipped finish but Sporting gathered themselves to hold off the last gasp Juventus rally and seal a deserved victory. It is early days for both clubs but it is the Italians who have the most work to do over the next few weeks.

Tom Oldfield