Higuain nets 100th goal in Serie A as Jeventas beat AC Milan 2-0


AP | Published: October 29, 2017 12:12:09 | Updated: November 09, 2017 19:25:03


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Gonzalo Higuain is once again a lean, mean, goal-scoring machine.

The Argentine scored another two to help visiting Juventus beat AC Milan 2-0 on Saturday.

Juventus moved level on points with Napoli at the top of Serie A. Napoli hosts Sassuolo on Sunday.

Roma was four points back, in fifth, after beating Bologna 1-0. The capital side will have played a match less than most other teams when the weekend is over, as its fixture at Sampdoria in September was postponed because of bad weather. 

Higuain, who netted 32 times last campaign, had a relatively quiet start to the season, scoring only twice in the first eight matches in all competitions. His confidence appeared to dip after being dropped by Argentina.

However, Higuain appears to have lost weight and is back to the form which persuaded Juventus to spend an Italian record 90 million euros (then $99 million) to sign him from Napoli in 2016.

These were his 100th and 101st goals in Serie A. Higuain also scored more than 100 in the Spanish league, for Real Madrid, and became only the second player to net a century in two of Europe's top five leagues after Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"I've always been the same player as before, I don't listen to criticism nor praise," said Higuain, who rejected the notion that his brace was the perfect response to his critics. 

Milan has won just one of its past six matches.

"It was an even match but Higuain made the difference," Milan coach Vincenzo Montella said. "Sometimes you also have to compliment the opposition, Higuain scored two phenomenal strikes. There are few Higuains out there." 

Higuain ensured Juventus had the last laugh in the latest showdown, which began with spectacular choreography by Milan fans before the game, mocking their opponent's European record with a giant banner depicting a Halloween scene of seven gravestones, each bearing the year of one of Juve's Champions League final defeats.

There were also loud boos for former Milan coach and player Massimiliano Allegri and Mattia De Sciglio.

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