McKennie's Equalizer

Midfielder Rescues Point for Juventus in Frustrating Lecce Draw

Weston McKennie continued his impressive form under manager Luciano Spalletti, scoring his first Serie A goal of the season to salvage a 1-1 draw for Juventus against Lecce on Saturday at the Allianz Stadium.

The 27-year-old American midfielder, deployed as an attacking midfielder in Juventus' 4-2-3-1 formation, struck just four minutes into the second half to cancel out Lameck Banda's first-half opener. McKennie capitalized on a rapid counterattack following a Lecce corner, finishing clinically after Kenan Yildiz's cross deflected into his path. The goal marked McKennie's third in his last nine appearances across all competitions—a remarkable upturn in production after managing just one assist in his previous 31 matches under former manager Igor Tudor. His versatility and consistent performances have made him indispensable to Spalletti's system.

"For me, it's not a new position," McKennie said afterward, discussing his attacking midfielder role. "I'm at the manager's and the team's disposal, and I try to give 100% in every role. I like playing as a trequartista because you can both defend and attack."

Despite his crucial equalizer, Juventus couldn't find a winner. Jonathan David's penalty was saved by Wladimiro Falcone in the 66th minute, denying the Bianconeri a chance to complete the comeback. McKennie was quick to support his teammate, insisting David had nothing to apologize for.

"He doesn't have to apologize to the team because this is football," McKennie stated. "We have to support him and keep his head up. Anyone can miss a penalty. That's football—you have to move forward and focus on the next game."

The draw extended Juventus' unbeaten run to five in all competitions, but it was their 22nd Serie A draw since last season—more than any other side in that span. However, McKennie remained philosophical about the dropped points.

"You feel a bit frustrated, but you can't dwell on missed chances," he said. "You have to keep moving forward."