Women hit Sassuolo for four! 

Juventus Women marked their return to action with a 4-0 win over Sassuolo on Sunday afternoon at Vinovo. After a goalless first half, Linda Sembrant, Arianna Caruso, Valentina Cernoia, and Annahito Zamanian found the back of the net to hand the Bianconere a crucial home win. 

EVEN FIRST HALF

Rita Guarino had to make do without the services of Gama, Hurtig and Tasselli due to injury, along with Salvai, who had tested positive for Covid-19 in the week. This meant that Tuija Hyyrynen had to slot into the centre of defence alongside Linda Sembrant, just like they did in the victory over San Marino. The opening 25 minutes saw an even display between both sides, with neither team testing the opposition’s goalkeeper. Valentina Cernoia then came agonisingly close to turning in her free-kick, which sailed just over the top right corner by inches. Hyyrynen then made a brilliant sliding challenge to block Philtjens’ dangerous cross into the box, while Dubcova nodded an effort just over the face of goal.

SEMBRANT STRIKES

Maria Alves came on in place of Bonansea at the start of the second half, while Lundorf made a crucial interception in the 50th minute to deny Sassuolo. The Bianconere did eventually take the lead in the 57th minute when Linda Sembrant rose above everyone else and nodded Cernoia’s corner into the back of the net.

CARUSO DOUBLES THE LEAD

Giuliani made an easy save to deny Cambiaghi, as Juventus started to pile the pressure. The Bianconere were finding more space between the Sassuolo backline, and they doubled the lead in the 69th minute when Caruso, who was in the right place at the right time, got onto the end of Pedersen’s blocked effort to fire home the rebound.

CERNOIA & ZAMANIAN WRAP IT UP

It started to become one-way Cernoia added a third goal in the 84th minute when she sliced in a low left-footed effort into the back of the net. The victory was then wrapped up when Zamanian, who had replaced Galli, found the back of the net with a curling effort from close range, following Maria Alves’ cross.

Juventus XI: Giuliani; Lundorf, Hyyrynen, Sembrant, Boattin; Galli (Zamanian 86’), Pedersen, Caruso (Rosucci 78’); Bonansea (Maria Alves 46’), Girelli (Staskova 71’), Cernoia

Subs: Bacic, Berti, Giordano, Caiazzo, Maria Alves, Zamanian, Staskova, Rosucci, Ippolito