Galaxy shock Juve in LA

Juventus were still feeling the effects of pre-season preparation in their shock 3-1 defeat to LA Galaxy. “We need to wake up,” slammed Antonio Conte.

The Bianconeri continued their Guinness International Champions Cup campaign after a 1-1 draw with Everton saw them defeated on penalties.

Conte’s men took on LA Galaxy at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last night. The competition also had Real Madrid 2-1 Everton.

Alessandro Matri had two early opportunities, while Gigi Buffon denied Landon Donovan and Sarvas. Juninho created the opening goal for the Galaxy with an inspired through ball that sent Omar Gonzales clear to beat Buffon.

The lead lasted just three minutes, as Fabio Quagliarella’s turn and shot was parried into the path of Matri to equalise.

Conte transformed his side in the second half, giving Giorgio Chiellini, Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Barzagli and Sebastian Giovinco their season debuts after extended post-Confederations Cup vacations.

Juve seemed distracted and Arturo Vidal was dispossessed in the final third for Robbie Keane to set up Donovan’s tap-in. Giovinco clipped the crossbar with one of his trademark free kicks, but Keane pounced on a terrible Andrea Pirlo backpass to beat Marco Storari.

Juventus will now face the losing side from Valencia-Inter in Miami.

“It’s good that this very bad loss happened pre-season, when it doesn’t matter,” said Conte.

“We have to go back and get organized for the season. We understand we’re not doing things properly, and we need to go back to the hard work that got us two consecutive Scudetti.

“We need everybody to wake up, and I put myself as the first one. We have great players, a great roster, but in these last two years, we’ve always gone beyond our limits with hard work and determination. We need to go back to that. They were in better shape and faster than us.”

LA Galaxy 3-1 Juventus

Scorers: Gonzalez 36 (G), Matri 39 (J), Donovan 60 (G), Keane 89 (G)

LA Galaxy: Rowe; De La Garza, Gonzales, Leonardo, Dunivant (Franklin 66); Stephens (Zardes 66), Juninho (Garcia 82), Sarvas, Rogers (Lauren 82); Donovan (Jimenez 82), Villareal

Juventus: Buffon (Storari 46); Caceres (Barzagli 46) (Peluso 78), Bonucci (Chiellini 46), Ogbonna; Isla (Lichtsteiner 46), Padoin (Vidal 46), Marrone (Pirlo 46), Asamoah (Vucinic 70), De Ceglie (Marchisio 46); Quagliarella (Giovinco 46), Matri (Llorente 46)