It was a hectic encounter at ‘Pozzo-La Marmora’ in Biella between Juventus Women First Team and Lazio Women, or rather, it was a hectic second half as the two teams battled it out. In the end, the three points went the way of the Bianconere who defeated the Biancocelesti 3-2 thanks to a 90th minute winner from Barbara Bonansea. The winning goal came so late because Massimiliano Canzi's team, having gone ahead through Sofia Cantore and Cristiana Girelli, were then pegged back by the visitors to take the scoreline from 2-0 to 2-2. Thankfully Bonansea was on hand to find the back of the net with a deft touch in the final seconds of regulation time.
THE MATCH REPORT
A SCORELESS FIRST HALF
The Bianconere came flyng out the blocks. Chiara Beccari, one of the most involved in the opening stages, found Arianna Caruso, who was unable to hit the target with her effort from outside the area.
A few minutes later, Beccari was once again at the heart of the action. The number 18 let off a strike towards the Biancoceleste goal, but her attempt was blocked by the Lazio defence.
Having dealt with the Bianconere's early attacks, the visiting team began to grow into the game and in the 18th minute they came close to opening the scoring through Martina Zanoli, but her effort didn’t trouble Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, as Paulina Krumbiegel was on hand to make a crucial block. Shortly afterwards, it was Martina Lenzini’s turn to make a decisive intervention as she closed down Noemi Visentin in the penalty area. Peyraud-Magnin was then also called into action to make an excellent save to deny Visentin. A few minutes later Flaminia Simonetti tried her luck from outside the area, but the Juve defence once again stood strong to block the effort.
Following that period of sustained pressure by Lazio, it was Juve’s turn to knock on the door. In quick succession Beccari's close range effort was kept out by Sara Cetinja, and then Girelli and Cantore were unable to link up in the penalty area to find the opener.
Shortly after the half-hour mark it was Krumbiegel's turn to volley goalwards inside the penalty area, but Cetinja managed to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net. Then Caruso’s deflected effort looked set to give Juve the lead, but the Lazio goalkeeper was able to tip it onto the post.
Before the half-time whistle there remained time for yet another great opportunity for the Bianconere: Caruso again found the ball at her feet following a rebound, but her left-footed effort clipped the top of the crossbar.
Despite there being plenty of chances at both ends in the first half, the opening period came to a close with the score remaining 0-0.
SECOND HALF: A THRILLING ENCOUNTER AS JUVE WIN
The deadlock was broken just a few minutes into the second half: Beccari got in behind down the left and picked out Cantore who, having expertly controlled the pass, fired a powerful right-footed shot past Cetinja, 1-0. A superb goal by Sofia Cantore, the 700th goal scored by Juventus Women since their first official match.
Lazio tried to react immediately but were unable to cause many problems for Peyraud-Magnin.
Juventus were in control of the match and doubled their lead just before the hour mark through Girelli, as the striker guided home a header from Caruso’s corner kick to make it 2-0.
Juve seemed to have the three points in the bag, but the Bianconere tried not to let themselves become complacent, aware that the match remained in the balance and the next goal could completely change the complexion of the encounter.
That next goal did indeed change the match and came in the 71st minute: Clarisse Le Bihan took advantage of Peyraud-Magnin’s indecisiveness and lofted her left-footed shot over her goalkeeper to halve the deficit.
Now more than ever, the Biancocelesti believed they were back in the game, and five minutes later they completed the comeback with a goal from Visentin. The visitor’s captain latched onto Eleonora Goldoni's pass and, after rounding Peyraud-Magnin, slotted the ball into the back of the net to equalise.
With the scores level, which seemed almost unthinkable at the hour mark, the Bianconere were shaken, but showed great character to react immediately. Massimiliano Canzi's team created several opportunities in the closing stages of the match and the Bianconere's persistence was rewarded in the 90th minute: Bonansea, a second half substitute, diverted Amalie Vangsgaard's pass - another substitute – past Cetinja to make it 3-2.
It was the last real chance of a crazy second half that saw Juventus come away with three very important points.
JUVENTUS 3-2 LAZIO
Pozzo-La Marmora (Biella), Sunday 8 December, 2024 at 12:30 (CET)
Women’s Serie A – Matchday 12
Goals: 48’ Cantore (J), 58’ Girelli (J), 71’ Le Bihan (L), 76’ Visentin (L), 90’ Bonansea (J)
Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin, Lenzini, Rosucci, Boattin, Thomas, Schatzer (59’ Bennison), Krumbiegel, Caruso, Cantore (59’ Vangsgaard), Girelli (74’ Lehmann), Beccari (74’ Bonansea).
Unused Substitutes: Kullberg, Bragonzi, Bergamaschi, Pelgander, Calligaris, Capelletti, Gallo, Proulx.
Coach: Massimiliano Canzi.
Lazio: Cetinja, Baltrip-Reyes, Connolly, D’Auria, Eriksen (59’ Lina), Oliviero, Zanoli, Goldoni (90+1’ Moraca), Simonetti (88’ Colombo), Visentin, Le Bihan.
Unused Substitutes: Karresmaa, Castiello, Pittaccio.
Coach: Gianluca Grassadonia.
Referee: Gianluca Renzi
Assistants: Roberto Meraviglia, Badreddine Mamouni
Bookings: 47’ Connolly (L), 53’ Eriksen (L), 72’ D’Auria (L), 79’ Le Bihan (L), 85’ Baltrip-Reyes (L)
Next Match:**
Bayern Munich-Juventus
Champions League Group Stage – Matchday 5
Thursday, 12 December, 2024 at 18:45 (CET)
FC Bayern Campus Kunstrasen 1