Juventus upset Korea fans for not playing Ronaldo

Juventus FC’s Cristiano Ronaldo (R) sits on the team bench prior to a friendly football match between Team K League and Juventus FC in Seoul on July 26, 2019. – Juventus tied 3-3 in a friendly with K League All-Star team in Seoul on July 26, with its players apparently fatigued from a tight schedule that had landed them in South Korea just hours before playing. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)

Juventus drew 3-3 in a friendly with a K League all-star team on Friday but 60,000 spectators couldn’t hide their upset after Cristiano Ronaldo failed to play.

Ronaldo remained on the bench throughout the game ignoring appeals from the crowd to lace up his boots.

It was understandable on the Portuguese superstar’s part because the Italian team arrived in South Korea in mid-afternoon on a delayed flight from Nanzing, China, with the match scheduled only five hours later.

The kick-off was delayed an hour and Spanish midfielder Osmar Barba, who plays for Seoul FC, quickly put the all-stars ahead.

Simone Muratore pulled one back for the Italian champions. Then in the 44th minute, Brazilian forward Cesinha of Daegu FC put the K League team 2-1 up and Australian Adam Taggart of Suwon Bluewings widened the lead in the 49th minute.

Midfielder Blaise Matuidi reduced the deficit in the 77th minute and two minutes later Matheus Pereira got the equaliser.