Pro Sports

Ronaldo nets 2 as Juventus wins at Parma 4-0 in Serie A

Posted December 20, 2020 6:00 am

By DANIELLA MATAR

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the goal 0-3, during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Parma and Juventus at the Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

MILAN (AP) - Cristiano Ronaldo responded to recent criticism with two goals to help Juventus win at Parma 4-0 in Serie A on Saturday.

Dejan Kulusevski scored Juve's opener against his old club as the nine-time defending champion moved level with Inter Milan, a point behind leader AC Milan.

Both Milan sides play on Sunday, when the Rossoneri travels to Sassuolo and Inter hosts Spezia.

Juventus has drawn half of its 12 Serie A matches. In the last stalemate midweek against Atalanta, Ronaldo had an unusually sub-par performance and a penalty saved.

'œRonaldo was angry for having missed the penalty, but we had a few days to think about it and he showed how much he cares about scoring goals, even better when during open play," Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo said.

'œWe weren't happy with Wednesday's result, but the performance was good. We had to get back the points we lost against Atalanta and we did it in the best way.'ť

Kulusevski was given a start against his old club. The 20-year-old midfielder spent last season on loan at Parma, during which he completed a permanent transfer from Atalanta to Juventus.

Kulusevski was quickest to react to a low cross from Alex Sandro from the left, knocking it into the far bottom corner in the 23rd minute.

Juventus doubled its lead just three minutes later when Ãlvaro Morata floated in a cross from the right and Ronaldo leapt up high to head it in.

Ronaldo had his second three minutes into the second half with an angled drive past Luigi Sepe after being picked out by Aaron Ramsey.

Morata added the fourth when he headed in Federico Bernardeschi's cross.

MORE MISERY

Bottom club Crotone's recent run of positive results was halted at Sampdoria in a 3-1 loss.

Crotone picked up four of its six points from its past two matches, but goals from Mikkel Damsgaard and Jakub Jankto gave Sampdoria a 2-0 start.

Simy pulled one back for Crotone from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime but substitute Fabio Quagliarella restored Samp's two-goal advantage in the second half, five minutes after coming off the bench.

Crotone slipped five points from safety after Fiorentina drew against Hellas Verona 1-1. Both teams netted penalties early in the first half.

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo scores his side's second goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Parma and Juventus at the Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring the goal 0-3, during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Parma and Juventus at the Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo, right, celebrates after scoring a goal 0-3, during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Parma and Juventus at the Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo, right, heads the ball to score his side's second goal of the game during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Parma and Juventus at the Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Juventus' Dejan Kulusevski celebrates after scoring his side's first goal of the game during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Parma and Juventus at the Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Sampdoria's Fabio Quagliarella celebrates after scoring his side's third goal of the game during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Sampdoria and Crotone at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

Sampdoria's Mikkel Damsgaard, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal of the game during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Sampdoria and Crotone at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) The Associated Press

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