04 February 2023
After 49 games unbeaten at home, Juventus Women have lost one. AC Milan were the victors in Saturday's Serie A Week 16 meeting, with goals by Martina Piemonte – from the penalty spot – and Lindsey Thomas sealing a 2-1 win.
Joe Montemurro's side, who had to play the entire second half with 10 women after Lisa Boattin was sent off in the penalty incident, fashioned a host of second-half opportunities but could only find one goal, through Linda Sembrant, right at the death.
THE MATCH
The opening exchanges were end to end stuff. The Bianconeri rearguard dealt well with a couple of openings for the visitors before the first real chance came down the other end. Cristiana Girelli teed up Lisa Boattin with a delightful backheel but the wing-back couldn't get her finish on target.
Two minutes later Martina Lenzini's lofted cross-shot had Laura Giuliani beaten but came off the woodwork.
Milan's response came in the 19th minute through Thomas, who struck a fierce drive towards the near post but found Pauline Peyraud-Magnin well placed.
Sofia Cantore and Martina Rosucci then had a chance each but both failed to trouble Giuliani, before the Rossonere ended the half in the ascendancy.
The moment that turned the match came just before the break. Boattin was adjudged to have handled during a goalmouth scramble and the referee awarded a penalty and pulled out the red card. Piemonte made no mistake from 12 yards to leave the Bianconere with a mountain to climb in the second half.
Despite the size of the task facing them, Juve came out again with the bit between their teeth and took control of proceedings.
Within two minutes Giuliani was called into action to save Sofie Pedersen's effort, and she repeated the trick on Lineth Beerensteyn shortly afterwards.
Milan occasionally threatened on the break but Juve still looked the more likely side to score.
Arianna Caruso tried to produce a wonder goal after replacing Pedersen, then in the 68th minute a long Juve move ended with Sara Gama's shot being turned onto the bar by Giuliani.
Another sliding doors moment came on 70 minutes when Beerensteyn found herself one on one with Giuliani and fired past the keeper, only to see her shot come back off the underside of the bar. Gama was then unable to turn in the rebound.
Five minutes after Juve had so nearly equalised, Thomas made it 2-0 to Milan to all but end the contest.
The two-goal deficit made an unlikely comeback even more difficult but that didn't stop the Bianconere from trying, even as their energy levels inevitably began to wane. They did eventually pull a goal back - albeit in the dying seconds – when Sembrant turned in Caruso's corner.
Juventus Women - Milan 1-2
Campionato Nazionale Serie A Femminile Tim - 16ª giornata- 1 fase – girone di ritorno
Campo “Ale & Ricky”, Vinovo
Marcatori: 46’ pt Piemonte (rig.) (M), 30’ st Thomas (M), 48’ st Sembrant (J)
Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin, Gama (Cap), Rosucci, Salvai (30’ st Sembrant), Lenzini (13’ st Bonansea), Pedersen (13’ st Caruso), Boattin, Grosso (39’ st Nystrom), Cantore (30’ st Gunnarsdottir), Girelli, Beerensteyn. Subs not used: Aprile, Simon, Pfattner, Duljan. Coach: Joseph Montemurro
Milan: Giuliani, Arnadottir, Nouwen, Bergamaschi (Cap), Asllani (20’ st Vigilucci), Dubcova K., Grimshaw (41’ st Andersen), Mascarello (30’ st Adami), Piemonte, Thomas, Mesjasz. Subs not used: Fedele, Babb, Fusetti, Soffia, Dubcova M., Guagni. Coach: Maurizio Ganz
Refree: Giusepe Collu
Bookings: 2’ st Grimshaw (M), 33’ st Grosso (J), 35’ st Gunnarsdottir (J)
Red Card: 45’ pt Boattin (J)
