ROME: Frenchman David Trezeguet came off the bench to score a late leveller as Juventus narrowly avoided slumping to a first defeat this season in a 2-2 draw at Genoa.

Hernan Crespo looked to have given Genoa a victory that would have moved them to within a point of the summit, but dreadful defending at a free-kick allowed Trezeguet to snatch the equaliser and ensure Juve boss Ciro Ferrara’s unbeaten run as club coach continued.

The result, however, represented the end of the team’s 100-per cent Serie A record. Since taking over two games before the end of last season, Ferrara has led the Old Lady of Turin to six wins and two draws. Now they sit behind champions and leaders Inter Milan only on goal difference.

Juve were off to a flying start as Vincenzo Iquinta gave them the lead in their first attack of the game. Claudio Marchisio got down the wing and played a low ball towards the edge of the box where Mauro Camoranesi ran over it leaving Iaquninta in space to shoot home into the bottom corner.

Juve were made to pay on the half hour mark as Mesto rose above his marker to head Giuseppe Sculli’s left wing cross beyond Gianluigi Buffon.

It was an entertaining game with both sides pushing for a winner and Sculli brought a fingertip save out Buffon. Iaquinta had the ball in the net 17 minutes from time when he headed home a Grosso free-kick but it was ruled out for the most marginal of offside decisions.

And just as in the first half, Juve were made to pay as Crespo got between centre-backs Giorgio Chiellini and Nicola Legrottaglie to head home Mesto’s cross at the near post with a quarter of an hour to play. Juve had the ball in the net again on 84 minutes through Chiellini but substitute David Trezeguet was penalised for offside in the build-up.

But moments later Juve finally made one stick from a free-kick as Genoa’s woeful defence stood and watched a Grosso chip into the box for the third time as Chiellini headed across goal for Trezeguet to nod home from close range.