Cheick Diabate bags brace as Benevento succumb to Juventus

Gbenga Adewoye

Cheick Diabate bags brace as Benevento succumb to Juventus image

Cheick Diabate got a brace in Benevento’s 4-2 loss to Juventus in Saturday’s Italian Serie A encounter at Stadio Ciro Vigorito.

The 29-year-old efforts were not enough as Paulo Dybala’s hat-trick and Douglas Costa’s strike secured the maximum points for the Old Lady.

The visitors started the game on a high with Dybala opening the scoring as early as the 16th minutes after an assist from Juan Cuadrado.

However, Roberto De Zerbi’s men soon braced up and rallied back with Diabate equalizing eight minutes later after been fed by Guilherme.

And at the nick of halftime, Dybala restored the lead to Massimiliano Allegri’s side from the penalty spot after Miralem Pjanic was impeded in the area.

After the restart, the Malian levelled matter once again in the 51st minute after connecting with Nicolas Viola’s cross.

In the 74th minute, Dybala completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Gonzalo Higuain was fouled in the area and Douglas Costa sealed the victory with eight minutes left to play.

The loss has further dented Benevento’s hope of avoiding relegation from the top-flight as they remain rooted to the bottom of the log with 13 points from 31 games.

Cheick Diabate

Diabate has now scored five goals in five games since he teamed up with the Campania outfit on loan from Turkish Super Lig side Osmanlıspor in January.

The former Bordeaux player will be looking to continue with the impressive display when Benevento take on Sassuolo in their next league tie on April 15.

 

Gbenga Adewoye