Kolo Muani continues flying start in late Juve win
Randal Kolo Muani converted an 89th-minute penalty to earn Juventus a 2-1 win at Como in Serie A, continuing his brilliant start to life as the Bianconeri.
Juventus visited Cesc Fabregas's team needing a victory to ease the pressure on head coach Thiago Motta, who had overseen 13 draws in his first 23 league games at the helm.
It looked like it might be frustrated again despite Kolo Muani, who recently arrived from Paris Saint-Germain on loan, putting it ahead against the run of play in the 34th minute with a blistering strike.
The hosts deservedly levelled on the stroke of half-time through Assane Diao's header, and a quiet second half seemed set to finish all-square.
However, a late foul by Como goalkeeper Jean Butez on Federico Gatti as they came together in an aerial challenge gave Juventus a spot-kick, which Kolo Muani confidently slotted home.
The win takes Juventus to fourth in the standings on 43 points, one ahead of Fiorentina, which plays second-placed Inter Milan on Tuesday (AEDT), and Lazio, which takes on Monza on Monday (AEDT).
Kolo Muani struggled for regular minutes after returning to his homeland to join PSG from Eintracht Frankfurt, but moving to Turin appears to have given him a new lease of life.
He is the first player to score five goals in his first three Serie A appearances in the three-points-for-a-win era, which began in the 1994-1995 season.
Juve boss Thiago Motta urged Kolo Muani to keep his feet on the ground as his fine start to life at Juventus.
"He's in good form, he scores goals, but he is sure he can do better," Motta said.
"He needs to keep his feet on the ground and continue to work. There are other things, apart from goals, that a forward needs to do.
"He is helping, like all the others, everyone had their moment and their characteristics. The squad will keep getting better."
Kolo Muani is now relishing this new lease of life in Italy, and could not have hoped for a better beginning.
"It's a dream for me. I'm very happy to be here and with this start, I'm very happy to be at Juventus," Kolo Muani said.
"For me, it is really important to always play to win. We are very happy to have succeeded tonight against Como. Now we head to the next one."
