Juventus vs. Tottenham: Score and Reaction from 2016 ICC

Juventus beat a young Tottenham Hotspur side 2-1 in the International Champions Cup at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday. 

Paulo Dybala opened the scoring early on, before Medhi Benatia quickly added a second in a dominant first half. Substitute Erik Lamela pulled one back amid a much-improved second half for the Lilywhites.

New boys Vincent Janssen and Victor Wanyama played for a Spurs team largely made up of youngsters, while Miralem Pjanic started for the Bianconeri along with Benatia.

It didn't take long for Juve to find the net against the largely inexperienced Tottenham side. Just five minutes in, Roberto Pereyra caught Dominic Ball in possession and drove forward at goal before laying it off to Dybala, who calmly finished off the move into the bottom corner, per Sky Sports Football:

GOAL! Juventus 1-0 Tottenham (Dybala) Live on Sky Sports 1 HD or follow it here: https://t.co/lwn9NmtUSn #ICC2016 https://t.co/hFmZsPR3Pu

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) July 26, 2016

The Bianconeri used the goal as a platform to dominate proceedings and pressure Spurs' young defence.

FourFourTwo's James Maw criticised Spurs for their involvement in the friendly without the majority of their best players:

Going to the other side of the world so a load of kids can get ripped to shreds in front of about 2000 people seems pretty pointless to me.

— James Maw (@JamesMawFFT) July 26, 2016

Another mix-up between Ball and Cameron Carter-Vickers allowed Dybala in once again, but Michel Vorm was able to palm his swerving shot out for a corner.

The resulting set piece proved Spurs' undoing after they failed to clear their lines, allowing the ball to be directed back in by Pjanic for Benatia to send a looping header into the top corner:

GOAL! Juventus 2-0 Tottenham (Benatia) Live on Sky Sports 1 HD or follow it here: https://t.co/lwn9NmtUSn #ICC2016 https://t.co/4qkp50OhjJ

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) July 26, 2016

Alex Shaw of ESPN was highly critical of Spurs' showing:

Juve 2-0 Spurs, 15 mins.

Not exaggerating here - this is some of the worst defending I have ever seen.

— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) July 26, 2016

Another Ball error almost gifted Dybala a further opportunity by selling Vorm short with a backpass, but the 'keeper was able to recover.

ESPN FC's Dan Kilpatrick highlighted the pair's struggles along with Kieran Trippier and Carter-Vickers:

#thfc The kids have been exposed so far but Tripper & Vorm aren't exactly being the calm, experienced heads you'd want them to be.

— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) July 26, 2016

#thfc Biggest problem so far is Ball & CCV going back to Vorm every time. No confidence to pass forward, so Spurs going nowhere fast.

— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) July 26, 2016

Tottenham were eventually able to build some possession toward the end of the half and Will Miller called for a penalty when he burst into the box before going down while sandwiched between two defenders, but a spot-kick would have been harsh on Juventus given the level of contact.

After the break, Pjanic should have made it 3-0 after being slipped in by Hernanes' sublime ball, but the midfielder contrived to skew his shot over the bar.

Spurs improved markedly with the additions of Harry Winks and Lamela, though, and looked far more comfortable in possession.

The English side eventually earned a lifeline back into the match when Wanyama won the ball in Juve's half. The midfielder quickly played the ball to Lamela, who slid the ball beyond Neto:

GOAL! Juventus 2-1 Tottenham (Lamela) Live on Sky Sports 1 HD or follow it here: https://t.co/lwn9NmtUSn #ICC2016 https://t.co/72rQbupzCG

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) July 26, 2016

Tottenham pushed forward in search of an equaliser as Juve made a raft of changes, and Neto had to be alert when Lamela fired another effort down his throat.

The Argentinian continued to be involved at every turn and played Shayon Harrison through in injury time, but the youngster couldn't beat Neto from close range.

After a dreadful start, Tottenham's performance in the second half will provide encouragement, as will Wanyama's showing in a difficult match.

As for Juventus, there's relatively little they'll be able to glean from the encounter, except that Benatia and Pjanic should prove to be valuable additions for the forthcoming season.