Juve Women held at home by Como

Julia Grosso scored her first goal for Juventus Women to give Joe Montemurro's team the lead at half time over the Serie A newcomers.

However, the Bianconere failed to capitalise on their chances to add a second and were pegged back in the second half by a graduate from the Juve Academy, Chiara Beccari.

It was the first time that Juventus failed to collect all three points at home against a newly-promoted team in the Italian top flight.

THE MATCH

Sofia Cantore was fielded on the left due to the late call off from Barbara Bonansea and that is where she received the ball for the first chance of the match. Her shot flashed across the face of goal, tipped wide by Beatrice Beretta for a corner.

A few minutes later again Cantore provoked panic in the opposition defence. Her driven cross for Cristiana Girelli. However, the number 10 was offside when she touched the ball home.

Como broke straight up the pitch and had the ball in the net following a corner, but again it was disallowed for offside.

A goal was in the air and it arrived in the 21st minute. Cantore picked up possession on the half-way line and released a pass for Julia Grosso. The midfielder raced in on goal and took her time to pick her spot and place the ball beyond Beretta, one of two loanees from Juve in the Como line-up.

It was Como’s other player on loan from the Bianconere, Chiara Beccari, who created the chance for the visitors to equalise on 33 minutes. The striker ran straight at the Juve defence only to be tripped up as she entered the penalty area.

Giulia Rizzon stepped up for the spot kick but Pauline Peyraud-Magnin penalty dived to her right to maintain Juve’s lead.

Juve sensed the danger of such a slender advantage and came close to adding a second. Grosso won the ball in the Como area. After her original effort was blocked, she passed to Arianna Caruso who in turn set up Agnese Bonfantini, whose shot clipped the top of the crossbar.

The winger's shot was to be the last chance of the first half.

Just like in the first half it was Cantore at the centre of the Juve’s bid to increase their lead, first from a header then a shot from distance.

Again the number nine came close on 63 minutes when she curled a shot destined for the far corner. Beretta at full stretch turned the ball out for a corner.

However it was Como’s number 9, Beccari, who scored the game’s second goal. On 68 minutes the forward played a one-two at the edge of the area and racing on to the return pass, beat Peyraud-Magnin with a measured finish.

Coach Montemurro introduced fresh impetus from the bench and it was one of the substitutes, Annahita Zamanian, who had an opportunity to restore Juve’s lead with five minutes to play. Beretta could only parry the ball to the edge of the area where the midfielder was waiting. However, her shot finished over the bar.

Despite five minutes of time added on, Juventus could not repeat the last minute heroics that had seen them clinch all three points seven days ago. After the 1-1 draw in the Champions League with Arsenal, the Bianconere had to settle for the same result at home to Como in Serie A.

POST-MATCH COMMENTS

JOE MONTEMURRO

Today we lacked a few things, we made many mistakes and we didn't deserve to win this match. We had our difficulties, but that's part of the game. The team we fielded should have been able to win the game but we weren't able to do it. Congratulations to Como, we have to understand that at this level we can't make mistakes like today."

LINDA SEMBRANT

"We had a lot of possession of the ball, but we weren't able to build the chances we should have and we didn't win. The coach told us that we have to do better, we have to control the games, if we stay with just a one-goal lead, we put ourselves in a difficult position. We absolutely have to close the game. All these matches is a great thing, we are a good group and together we can do better."

JUVENTUS WOMEN 1-1 COMO (HT: 1-0)

SCORERS: 21’ Grosso (J), 68’ Beccari (C).

JUVENTUS: Peyraud-Magnin; Lenzini, Rosucci, Sembrant, Lundorf; Caruso (73′ Cernoia), Pedersen, Grosso (68′ Zamanian); Bonfantini (80′ Duljan), Girelli, Cantore. Subs not used: Aprile, Forcinella, Salvai, Boattin, Bonansea, Arcangeli. Coach: Montemurro.

COMO: Beretta; Cecotti, Rizzon, Lipmann, Borini; Karlernas, Hilaj, Pavan (80′ Rigaglia); Kubassova (60′ Picchi), Beccari, Pastrenge (60′ Di Luzio). Subs not used: Korenvciova, Cavicchia, Beil, Liva, Bianchi, Carravetta. Coach: De La Fuente.

Referee: Kumara.

BOOKINGS: 40′ Peyraud-Magnin (J), 79′ Borini (C), 81′ Picchi (C).