Juventus gets back to winning ways with a lot of help from the post

MILAN (AP) — Juventus got back to winning ways but needed a lot of help from the post.

The Bianconeri won 2-0 at Udinese following an own-goal from home goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and Nicolò Savona’s strike, with the ball bouncing off the right post immediately before both goals.

It was only Juve’s second win in six matches in all competitions and lifted it up to third, ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures. It was four points behind Serie A leader Napoli, which hosts fourth-place Atalanta on Sunday.

Udinese slipped to eighth after it was leapfrogged by AC Milan, which won 1-0 at Monza.

Only two points separated Udinese and Juventus coming into the match.

Juventus took the lead in the 20th minute with a wonderful piece of play from Khéphren Thuram, who ran into the box and nutmegged a defender before taking a shot from a tight angle. The ball bounced off the inside of the far right post and in off the back of Okoye.

It would have been a first goal in Italy for Thuram, the younger brother of Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram.

Udinese had a number of chances to level before Juventus doubled its lead in the 37th.

The same post had a part to play again as Kenan Yildiz’s finish was deflected off almost exactly the same spot and Savona fired in the rebound.

Udinese thought it had got back into the match early in the second half but Keinan Davis’ effort was ruled out immediately as he had pushed Juventus defender Federico Gatti, causing him to crash into goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.

Rafael Leão was on the bench again and Milan managed a narrow win as it prepares for a tough trip to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Leão was brought on in the 63rd minute and immediately created a great opportunity but he then fired it well wide.

By that point Milan was already 1-0 up after breaking the deadlock shortly before halftime. Christian Pulisic whipped in a cross from the right and Álvaro Morata's header came off a Monza defender but Tijjani Reijnders nodded in the rebound.

Bologna welcomed back club captain Lewis Ferguson 203 days after his anterior cruciate ligament injury and the midfielder helped the team to its first home victory since even before he was sidelined.

There was a standing ovation when Ferguson was brought on in the 82nd minute and again when he first touched the ball moments later. There were also banners in the stands welcoming him back.

And Ferguson was involved in the only goal of the match to help Bologna beat Lecce 1-0 and get its first home win in seven months. He spread the play down the left, where the cross came in for Riccardo Orsolini’s header into the far bottom corner with five minutes remaining.

Ferguson, who was key to Bologna’s impressive campaign last season, needed surgery after injuring his knee playing against Monza on April 13, ruling the Scotland midfielder also out of the European Championship.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Bologna's head coach Vincenzo Italiano shouts on the touchline during the Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Lecce, at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium in Bologna, Italy, Saturday Nov. 2, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Bologna's Riccardo Orsolini scores his team's first goal during the Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Lecce, at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium in Bologna, Italy, Saturday Nov. 2, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Bologna's Riccardo Orsolini celebrates victory after the Serie A soccer match between Bologna and Lecce, at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium in Bologna, Italy, Saturday Nov. 2, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

AC Milan's Alvaro Morata, left, in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Monza and AC Milan at U-Power Stadium in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 2 , 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders celebrates scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Monza and AC Milan at U-Power Stadium in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders scores their side's first goal of the game during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Monza and AC Milan at U-Power Stadium in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 2 , 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

Udinese's Florian Thauvin controls the ball during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Udinese and Juventus at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Andrea Bressanutti/LaPresse via AP)

Juventus' Khephren Thuram, left, fights for the ball with Udinese's Keinan Davis during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Udinese and Juventus at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Andrea Bressanutti/LaPresse via AP)

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Oswin Appollis fired South Africa into the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Zimbabwe, while Egypt star Mohamed Salah got a rest.

The Bafana Bafana progressed in second place in Group B, behind already-qualified Egypt, which drew 0-0 with Angola in Agadir. Both final group games were played at the same time.

With his team already through, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan rested his regulars including Salah, Omar Marmoush, and Trézéguet. They’re set to return for the Pharaohs’ first knockout game, also in Agadir, against a third-place finisher from Groups A, C or D on Jan. 5.

South Africa needed a win in Marrakech to be sure of progress without relying on a favor from Egypt. But Zimbabwe twice came from behind and pushed for an equalizer late on.

Tshepang Moremi gave South Africa an early lead thanks to a deflection from Zimbabwe defender Divine Lunga taking it over the helpless goalkeeper.

Tawanda Maswanhise replied in the 19th with a brilliant individual goal, leaving defenders in his wake before firing the ball into the bottom corner.

Lyle Foster headed South Africa’s second early in the second half after a mix-up between Lunga and goalkeeper Washington Arubi.

An own-goal from Aubrey Modiba drew the Warriors level again in the 73rd to set up an exciting finale.

But they weren’t expecting Marvelous Nakamba to concede a penalty for handball instead of heading it, and Appollis duly converted the penalty in the 82nd.

South Africa awaits results in Group F as it will play the second-placed finisher from that group – Ivory Coast, Cameroon or Mozambique – on Sunday.

Later Sunday, host nation Morocco played Zambia in Group A, and Mali faced Comoros.

The Morocco players were cheered when they took their first walk out on the field before the game. Team captain Achraf Hakimi appealed for supporters to stop whistling the team on Sunday. He’s expected to play after recovering from an ankle injury.

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Angola's Beni Mukendi and Egypt's Mahmoud Saber compete for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Angola's Gelson Dala, right, controls the ball past Egypt's Ahmed Zizo during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Angola's Gelson Dala, right, kicks the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Egypt's Mohamed Salah, center, smiles as he sits on the bench ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)