Juve's Krasić pegs back Salzburg

FC Salzburg and Juventus were both left searching for their first wins in UEFA Europa League Group A following a 1-1 draw at the Stadion Salzburg.

Dušan Švento scored Salzburg's first goal of the competition on 36 minutes, just reward for a positive start, but Miloš Krasić hit back soon after the break to earn Juve a draw that leaves them third on three points, four off leaders Manchester City FC. Salzburg are bottom on one point.

Wary that a third successive defeat would likely spell the end of their knockout stage aspirations, the hosts took the game to their opponents but struggled to create chances against a deep-lying Bianconeri defence. Indeed it was the visitors who had the first strike on target with 25 minutes gone, Gerhard Tremmel beating away Alessandro del Piero's swirling free-kick.

But with Salzburg in the ascendancy, David Mendes Da Silva tested Juve's Alexander Manninger with a powerful strike at the other end. The home side took a deserved lead nine minutes before the break when Švento collected the ball on the left of the area before cutting inside and firing into the far corner.

Juventus coach Luigi Delneri brought on pacey winger Krasić for the second half, and the Serbian international had an immediate impact. Jorge Martínez's cross found its way to the far post, where the unmarked Krasić had time to control and finish just three minutes after the restart. Moments later Juve could have gone ahead, but Amauri's shot went wide following another Krasić break on the right.

Both Švento and substitute Christian Leitgeb went close for Salzburg midway through the second period, while Krasić blazed his finish over the bar after speeding past Martin Hinteregger. Still it was the hosts who almost grabbed a last-gasp winner, but substitute Jakob Jantscher's volley was turned around the post by Manninger.