Juve down to 10 men after Kelly red, juve forced into dramatic extra time
Lloyd Kelly’s dismissal at the start of the second half left juve with ten men and set the tone for a charged Champions League playoff second leg at the Allianz Stadium: Kelly was sent off after an aerial duel that left an opponent with an injured ankle, and the game later reached extra time after a late Juventus fightback made the aggregate score level.
Red card incident that changed the match
The pivotal moment came immediately after the interval when Kelly contested a header and, on landing, fell on Baris Alper Yilmaz’s ankle. Referee Pinheiro initially showed a second yellow but, after being called back to the VAR, changed the decision and issued a direct red at 3' of the second half. The dismissal reduced the home side to ten players and became the defining stoppage that altered both tactics and momentum.
How the juve comeback unfolded
Facing a significant first-leg deficit from the away match, Juventus mounted a comeback in normal time. A central defender tapped in a second-half chance to make it 2-0 for the night, and later a set-piece sequence yielded an equalizing third goal when Koopmeiners created space and McKennie headed home the decisive strike. By the end of regular time the scoreline for the night was 3-0, and the aggregate stood at 5-5, forcing the tie into extra time.
Controversy and reactions to the decision
The red card provoked strong disagreement among observers. A former match official expressed total dissent with the referee’s change of decision, arguing the defender had jumped for the ball and only grazed the opponent’s calf during the fall and that the incident did not merit a direct red. The disagreement centered on whether the VAR intervention produced the correct outcome after the on-field yellow was initially shown.
Extra time, substitutions and what comes next
Play moved into extra time with both coaches making tactical adjustments: substitutions were made during the extra period, including a defensive switch for the visitors and a midfield change for the hosts. Notable late-phase events included a near-penalty in the final minutes of normal time and a long-range attempt from the away side in extra time. With the aggregate level and the match extended beyond 90 minutes, fitness, fresh legs from substitutions and how ten-player Juventus manage space will determine which side advances. The extra period will decide progression in this playoff tie.
Key takeaways
- Lloyd Kelly received a direct red early in the second half after an aerial collision and VAR review.
- Juventus recovered to win the night’s play 3-0, leveling the aggregate at 5-5 and forcing extra time.
- Debate remains over the severity of the foul and the correctness of the VAR-altered red card.
