Rising teenage star Moise Kean stepped up in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo to rescue a 1-0 win for Juventus against lowly Empoli Saturday as the champions opened up an 18-point lead at the top of Serie A. The 19-year-old — who burst into the limelight during Italy's opening Euro 2020 qualifiers — came on as a substitute in Turin and three minutes later scored his third league goal of the season after his double against Udinese earlier this month. "I am neither (Lionel) Messi nor Cristiano but one day I hope to become like them," said Kean after Juventus got back winning after their first league defeat of the season to Genoa before the international break. Ronaldo had been rested by Juventus against Genoa and the Portuguese star is now recovering from a right thigh injury picked up on international duty. Kean's form gives Allegri more options ahead of his side's Champions League quarterfinal against Ajax. Kean became the second youngest player after Mario Balotelli, aged 18 years and 242 days in 2009, to score eight Serie A goals. AC Milan, however, suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season losing 1-0 at Sampdoria after its 3-2 derby defeat to Inter. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's blunder gifted the ball to Gregoire Defrel who turned in after 33 seconds in Genoa. Milan had dropped to fourth behind Inter after its derby defeat and remains two points adrift of its rival. Strasbourg beats Guingamp Racing Strasbourg won its third French League Cup title when they beat En Avant Guingamp 4-1 on penalties after the final had ended in a dull goalless draw after extra time Saturday. Lionel Carole scored the winning spotkick at Lille's Pierre Mauroy stadium at the end of a hugely disappointing final. Guingamp knocked out Paris St Germain, League Cup winner in the last five seasons, in the quarterfinals and it had won three of its four matches en route to the final on penalties but goalkeeper Marc-Aurele Caillard was powerless this time. Strasbourg, which also won the League Cup in 1997 and 2005, will play in the second qualifying round of the Europa League next season. Everton eases past West Ham Everton scored two first-half goals to cruise to a 2-0 victory at West Ham United on Saturday and climb into the top half of the Premier League table. Everton, which came into the game without a league win in London in 10 visits, took the lead in the fifth minute when Kurt Zouma headed home from a corner. West Ham could not get a foothold in the match as Everton continued to dominate, doubling its advantage when Bernard finished off a fine move to score his first Premier League goal. Boos rang around the stadium at the halftime whistle, but there was little West Ham improvement after the break as the host finished the match with only one shot on target. It was Everton who went closest to adding a third when Richarlison's late header hit the crossbar. Everton leapfrogged West Ham into ninth in the standings having inflicted a first defeat in seven home league games on the Hammers who slipped to 11th. "Very disappointing because without a doubt it was the worst performance of the year," West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini said. "You can lose but not like that — without fighting." "We were playing good football and creating chances," Everton manager Marco Silva said. "Our second goal was a really good moment. "I was very proud of our performance and seeing our desire from the first minute." — Agencies
