04 March 2023
A place in the final of Coppa Italia is in the balance after the first leg of the semi-final between Juve and Inter finished 1-1 in Milan.
The Bianconere took the lead on 29' through Julia Grosso only for the hosts to level 20 minutes into the second half. The second leg, next Saturday at Vinovo, is decisive.
THE MATCH
It might have been the away leg but Juve did all of the running in the opening phase of the match.
However, it was not until the 21st minute that Joe Montemurro’s side managed to find a way behind the home defence. A long pass from the back was flicked on by Cristiana Girelli into the path of Sara Gama. The captain, employed as right back, bore in on goal but dragged her shot wide of Alessia Piazza’s goal.
Inter responded immediately. Nchout Ajara Njoya was sent through one-on-one against Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. The Juve number one made herself big and blocked the Inter forward’s effort.
A minute before the half hour, Juve took the lead.
Julia Grosso started the move, cutting across midfield just outside the Inter penalty area before feeding the ball to Girelli, who in turn invited Gama into the play. The captain this time swung in a cross, which the Nerazzurre defence failed to clear.
Grosso latched on to the loose ball, broke two tackles then slammed the ball high into the net.
There was hardly time to regroup before Inter came close to an equaliser. Beatrice Merlo arrived at the far post and her volley forced a fingertip save from Peyraud-Magnin.
The Bianconere heeded the warning and broke upfield again. Cecilia Salvai found herself furthest forward, only for Piazza to turn her shot out for a corner.
In the closing stages of the first half the Bianconere pounced on some hesitation in the Inter defence. Arianna Caruso cut the ball back from the bye-line, where Lineth Beerensteyn was waiting. A home defender arrived at the moment of impact, deflecting the shot wide and causing a moment’s concern for the Juve bench.
Thankfully, the Netherlands international was quickly back on her feet after receiving treatment.
Juve adopted a more conservative approach in the second half. The hosts saw more of the ball and created their first chance since the restart on 57’.
Again Njoya found a way through the middle of the Bianconere defence but just as she was about to shoot, Salvai recovered ground to deflect the ball out for a corner.
Five minutes later Peyraud-Magnin was called into action, comfortably clutching a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Inter stayed on the front foot, however, and on 65' found the equaliser. Merlo cut in from the left, took aim and curled an unstoppable shot into the far corner.
With 10 minutes to play it was the home side that looked the more dangerous. Tabita Chawinga came close twice in as many minutes, but failed to hit the target from either chance.
In the last seconds of regular time, Juve had a glorious chance to reclaim the lead. Beerensteyn flighted in a cross that was taken off the head of Sofia Cantore by the Inter keeper. The ball fell to Sofie Pedersen at the far post, whose shot was blocked off the line.
The Bianconere continued to push forward in stoppages and created one last chance. A flowing move released Valentina Cernoia in space on the right wing. Her cross was met by Cantore, whose header was saved by Piazza.
INTER 1-1 JUVENTUS WOMEN (HT: 0-1)
SCORERS: 29′ Grosso, 65’ Merlo
INTER: Piazza; Van der Gragt, Alborghetti, Fördős; Thøgersen, Mihashi, Simonetti, Merlo; Ajara (62′ Chawinga), Polli (84′ Marinelli), Pandini. Subs not used: Gilardi, Csiszar, Kristjansdottir, Lång, Belli, Calegari, Colonna. Coach: Guarino.
JUVENTUS: Peyraud Magnin; Gama, Salvai, Sembrant, Lenzini; Caruso (74′ Pedersen), Gunnarsdottir, Grosso (74′ Cernoia); Bonansea (74′ Cantore), Girelli (85′ Nystrom), Beerensteyn. Subs not used: Aprile, Duljan, Simon, Schatzer, Pfattner. Coach: Montemurro.
Referee: Crezzini.
BOOKINGS: 31′ Beerensteyn, 80′ Van der Gragt, 86′ Simonetti, 90+2’ Aprile
