The Juventus Women's First Team claimed a big win in both scoreline and importance on Serie A Matchday 13, going away to Fiorentina and coming home with three goals, three points and a clean sheet.
Sofia Cantore scored two stunning goals to put the Bianconere two goals ahead, with Barbara Bonansea sealing the win late on in style.
MATCH REPORT
The Bianconere started the match trying to impose their game, and after nine minutes created their first attempt on goal following excellent interplay between Amalie Vangsgaard and Sofia Cantore – who timed her return pass to perfection – but the Danish forward could only turn a difficult effort over. A few minutes later, Hanna Bennison tested Cecilie Fiskerstrand in the Fiorentina goal, who had to turn it behind for a corner, while in the 17th minute Vangsgaard had another attempt from the corner, but her shot on the turn struck the top of the crossbar.
Fiorentina tried to respond to the Bianconere onslaught, and in the 35th minute Madelen Janogy’s effort forced Pauline Peyraud-Magnin into a good save at her near post. Vangsgaard managed to test the Viola defence a couple more times before the half-time whistle, with the Bianconere only missing a goal to show for their first half endeavours. The first half ended 0-0.
The first five minutes of the second half were action-packed, as the Bianconere managed what they were unable to achieve in the first half. In the 47th minute, following a slick Juventus counterattack led single-handedly by Chiara Beccari, she produced a fantastic cross-field pass to set up Cantore. The no.9 unleashed a right-footed rocket which Fiskerstrand was powerless to stop.
Despite going 1-0 down, Fiorentina came close to equalising just 60 seconds later, as Agnese Bonfantini found herself through on Peyraud-Magnin’s goal following the restart. However, the Viola player blazed over the crossbar when well placed. As people often say in football, a miss is often followed by a goal at the other end – especially so if you are facing an in-form Sofia Cantore who, in the 50th minute, produced a real right-footed gem from outside the area, her unstoppable shot finding its way past Fiskerstrand and into the left-hand side of the Viola's goal.
At 2-0, the challenge eased for Massimiliano Canzi's side, who showed great maturity to control the game (also demonstrating the strength in depth of their bench, with the introduction of quality players, such as Arianna Caruso and Barbara Bonansea) and create several opportunities on the counter as they hunted a third.
The greatest threat Juventus faced came in the 83rd minute, as Bonfantini tested Peyraud-Magnin with an effort from distance, but the goalkeeper was able to push the ball over the crossbar.
After that, Bonansea left a couple of opponents (including the goalkeeper) on the floor as her counter capped a perfect second half display with a third goal for the Bianconere, who come away from Viola Park with a well-deserved 3-0 victory.