11 March 2023
Juventus Women put on a battling display on a blustery afternoon at Vinovo to reach the Coppa Italia final. The Bianconere made it back-to-back finals following a 2-1 win after extra time.
Sara Gunnarsdóttir opened the scoring early but despite creating chance after chance, Juve were pegged back in the closing minutes.
Lineth Beerensteyn gave the Bianconere the lead for the third and final time in the tie on 100 minutes to seal a 3-2 aggregate victory.
A dream start for Joe Montemurro's team.
Inter were pressed from kick-off and were unable to even emerge from their own penalty area. When Martina Lenzini chased down the ball after her own shot had been blocked, she shaped in an inviting cross. Sara Gunnarsdóttir met the delivery at the edge of the six-yard box and the Icelander’s close-range header sailed into the net.
The Bianconere were rewarded with the game’s opening goal with less than two minutes played.
On 18 minutes there was a glorious chance to double the lead. Inter had pushed players up field, Juve had space to exploit, exactly what Lineth Beerensteyn did, racing in behind the Milanese defence. The winger was foiled by a finger-tip save from Alessia Piazza, who touched the shot wide for a corner.
Nine minutes later another run by the Netherlands international caused panic in the Inter rearguard. Although her run took her wide of goal, a sharp turn at the byline gave her a sight on goal. From a tight angle, she went for the shot, which was again parried for a corner.
With 10 minutes of the first half remaining, Inter created their first chance of the afternoon. Beatrice Merlo received a pass inside the area following a penetrating run from Tabitha Chawinga. Linda Sembrant immediately closed down the Nerazzurre winger and deflected her shot wide.
Just like seven days before, Juve held a narrow lead at the break.
The hosts kept up their push for a crucial second goal after the interval.
Six minutes into the second half, a run by Barbara Bonansea took her past the Inter defence. Her cut back needed just a finishing touch, but before Julia Grosso could tap home, Stefanie Van der Gragt cleared off the line.
Seven minutes later another lung-bursting run by Bonansea created another excellent chance. This time the number 11 laid the ball off for Cristiana Girelli, who dinked in a cross. Beerensteyn rose for the header but was outjumped by the Nerazzurrre defence.
Immediately Juve, and Beerensteyn, spurned another opportunity. After the ball was won back in midfield, Gunnarsdóttir delivered a defence-splitting pass for Beerensteyn, who poked her shot just wide of the far post.
And still the chances kept coming. A cross from Sofie Pedersen was parried by Piazza into the heart of the penalty area. Although Gunnarsdóttir flicked the ball goalwards, the Inter defence cleared their lines. Then, a beautiful one-touch move released Grosso at the height of the penalty spot, but unlike seven days ago, she failed to find the back of the net.
With seven minutes of normal time to play, Inter levelled.
Determination from Chawinga saw her break through the Bianconere defence and unlike her previous attempt, saved by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, she got the better of the French keeper, latching on to the loose ball to tap home.
Juve set about restoring their lead and only desperate defending kept the ball out of the net before the referee blew for extra time.
The momentum of the match remained unchanged in extra time. Juve continued to do the running, Inter sought to hit on the break.
The Bianconere pressure finally paid off and it was Beerensteyn who put the Bianconere in front for the third time over the two legs. Arianna Caruso exchanged passes with Girelli before releasing Beerensteyn, whose pace was matched by the finish, high beyond Piazza into the net.
Bringing their experience to the fore, Juve ensured that Inter this time would not find a way back into the contest.
JUVENTUS WOMEN 2-1 INTER aet (HT: 1-0)
SCORERS: 2′ Gunnarsdóttir, 83’ Chawinga, 100’ Beerensteyn
JUVENTUS: Peyraud Magnin; Gama (80′ Cantore), Salvai, Sembrant, Lenzini (68′ Caruso); Gunnarsdottir (108′ Nystrom), Pedersen, Grosso; Bonansea, Girelli, Beerensteyn. Subs not used: Aprile, Forcinella, Simon, Duljan, Schatzer, Pfattner. Coach: Montemurro.
INTER: Piazza; Fordos (101′ Kristjansdottir), Van der Gragt, Alborghetti; Thogersen, Simonetti (78′ Ajara), Mihashi, Merlo; Pandini (68′ Karchouni); Polli (101′ Marinelli), Chawinga. Subs not used: Gilardi, Santi, Csiszar, Lang, Calegari. Coach: Guarino.
Referee: Carrione.
BOOKINGS: 40′ Lenzini, 78′ Van de Gragt, 80′ Salvai, 85′ Fordos
