Juve ends slump, punishes Udinese

Published Jan. 19, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

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Juventus got back to winning ways with a 4-0 win over Udinese in the Serie A on Saturday, with two stunning goals from Paul Pogba.

Pogba lashed a 30-meter strike into the top left corner to give Juventus the lead four minutes from halftime.

The 19-year-old, who was signed on a free transfer from Manchester United, scored another brilliant, long-range goal midway through the second half.

"It's been a good night for me," Pogba said. "I scored my first two goals in one game, so I'm very happy. But you always have to think it's not finished, it's just two goals. I have to continue to play well and continue improving.

"It was important to win today to be confident, to keep in front, to feel more comfortable. You have to ask (United coach Alex Ferguson) why he let me go. But I'm really happy where I am. I want to be here, I want to progress here."

Mirko Vucinic sealed the match when he fired in from close range before Alessandro Matri beat the offside trap to score Juve's fourth, 10 minutes from time.

Juventus dominated despite being without key playmaker Andrea Pirlo as well as Claudio Marchisio, Simone Pepe, Kwadwo Asamoah, Giorgio Chiellini and Nicklas Bendtner.

Udinese's second-choice goalkeeper Daniele Padelli, between the posts in place of the injured Zeljko Brkic, kept his side in the game, pulling off good saves to deny Arturo Vidal and Emanuele Giaccherini, although he was at fault for Juve's third.

"We had an awful game and an awful performance," Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin said. "We wasted out chance seeing as we were coming off a good run and they could have been a bit worried.

"We were really awful at the beginning of the game, giving ball after ball away to our opponents. Then when we tried to change, Pogba punished us twice and the game was over. Today, really nothing worked, it's a pity because it really wasn't this that we were expecting."

Juventus was five points ahead of second-placed Lazio, which was held to 2-2 at struggling Palermo. Napoli, which plays Fiorentina on Sunday, was a point further back.

It is a timely boost for Juventus which started the year with defeat to 10-man Sampdoria and a draw at Parma.

It is Udinese's first defeat in seven games.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Juventus-beats-Udinese-4-0-with-2-Pogba-goals-4208017.php#ixzz2ITuxg0jK