18 August 2022
A chance to live the dream again. Juventus Women shook up the hierarchy of European football last season with their run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. This season Joe Montemurro’s side again kicked off their campaign in the qualifying round of Europe’s most prestigious tournament, and the Bianconere delivered the goods, defeating Racing FC Union Luxembourg in the semi-final of the Round 1 mini-tournament. Captain on the night Martina Rosucci got the game rolling with the team’s first goal on the night and of the season. Cristiana Girelli doubled the lead in the first half before Arianna Caruso and Agnese Bonfantini rounded off the scoring after the break.
EARLY PRESSURE PAYS OFF
Despite their opponents sitting deep in a bid to close down the Bianconere, the home side moved swiftly with intention and won a series of corners in the opening minutes. And it was from a corner partially cleared that Juventus found the opener. Amanda Nilden flighted in the cross which Agnese Bonfantini brought down before playing the ball across the face of goal - an open invitation for Martina Rosucci to knock in from close range.
The second goal, meanwhile, came direct from a corner, delivered by Lisa Boattin. Cristiana Girelli made a run to the near post, and unmarked glanced her header into the bottom corner.
The Bianconere continued to play first touch football, which crafted chances for Arianna Caruso, Sofie Pedersen and Bonfantini to add to the tally before the break, but to no avail.
OUT OF SIGHT
Juve continued to dominate possession also after the restart, and again made a set piece count. Caruso picked out the top corner with a free-kick, hit with too much power and precision to give Elisabeth Burtin in the visitors’ goal any chance. Just after the hour mark, again some fine one-touch football saw the Bianconere break behind the Racing Union defence. Nilden picked out Bonfantini, who smashed her volley into the net.
First-half scorers Girelli and Rosucci had a chance to add to their personal tallies but saw their efforts bounce back off the frame of the goal. On 66 minutes, Girelli slammed a penalty off the post, while in stoppage time Rosucci’s long-range effort crashed off the crossbar.
A confident display from Juventus sets them up for a Round 1 Final showdown with Israel's Kiryat Gat on Sunday evening, with the chance to take another step towards the Champions League Group Stage for the second consecutive season.
JOE MONTEMURRO’S ANALYSIS
“Despite having had little time to prepare for this match, we’re satisfied with the result. Of course, we can still improve a lot, but tonight's game was a very useful test to continue putting into practice what we’re doing in training and to keep trying to find our best condition, with Sunday's match also being a further stimulus. There is enthusiasm within the group and this is the most important aspect.”
JUVENTUS WOMEN 4-0 RACING FC UNION LUXEMBOURG (HT: 2-0)
SCORERS: 11’ Rosucci (J), 21’ Girelli (J), 54’ Caruso (J), 61’ Bonfantini (J)
JUVENTUS
Aprile; Nilden, Pedersen (57’ Gunnarsdottir), Sembrant, Boattin (72’ Lenzini); Rosucci, Grosso, Caruso (57’ Cernoia); Bonansea (57’ Beerensteyn), Girelli (72’ Zamanian), Bonfantini.
Subs not used: Peyraud-Magnin, Forcinella, Dujan, Lundorf, Cantore, Arcangeli.
Coach: Montemurro.
RACING FC UNION LUXEMBOURG
Burtin; Dos Santos, Thony, Martins, Cammarata (77’ Noel); Kocan, Boussif (65’ Veloso), Lavinas Teixeira (77’ De Lemos); Wojdyla (87’ Lopes Monteiro), Estevez Garcia, Kohr (87’ C. Moran).
Subs not used: Falentin, Lahmadi, Armannsdottir, Monteiro, A. Moran, Richards.
Coach: Grettnich.
Referee: Kumer.
Assistants: Pejic, Constantinescu.
Fourth Official: Terteleac.
BOOKINGS: 30’ Kohr (RUL), 59’ Estevez Garcia (RUL), 80’ Thony (RUL), 90+5’ Gunnarsdottir (J)
