Juventus held, Inter shoots to top, Fiorentina handed first defeat: Serie A Femminile Week Four Round Up
Juventus recorded their second draw in just four matches when they were held 1-1 away to Sassuolo on Saturday.
The visitors opened the scoring through forward Cristiana Girelli in the 20th minute with an assist from midfielder Valentina Cernoia and the match would go to half-time with Joe Montemurro’s side in the lead.
Defender Davina Philtjens equalised for the Neroverde eight minutes into the second half to ensure that the teams share the spoils.
It is a moment in which we find it a bit difficult to close the games, but the base of the team is very good — Joe Montemurro
Both teams finished with 10 players with Cernoia being shown a straight red for a foul on midfielder Valeria Monterubbiano on 78 minutes before Sassuolo’s 72nd minute substitute forward Asia Bragonzi was also given marching orders in the first minute of second half extra-time for a reckless challenge on midfielder Annahita Zamanian.
Montemurro expressed concern over his troops’ failure to finish off matches following their latest draw.
“We leave this match with one point apiece despite the many opportunities we (Juventus) have had. It is a moment in which we find it a bit difficult to close the games, but the base of the team is very good.
“This phase also confirms a good level of our opponents. However, we continue to believe in our work, I'm sure good things will come.
“Now let's think about the Champions League: we recover mentally tomorrow, from Monday we start the preparation: the goal is to capitalize on the many opportunities we create, as happened in the case of these three draws,” Montemurro told the Italian media.
The result saw Juventus slip from fourth to fifth on the standings on eight points whilst Sassuolo slipped from eighth to the bottom of the log on one point.
Elsewhere, Inter Milan shot to the summit of the Serie A Femminile log following their 2-0 win over Sampdoria away on Sunday.
Forward Tatiana Bonetti opened the scoring for the visitors from the penalty spot on 62 minutes before forward Tabitha Chawinga, on loan from Chinese side Wuhan Jianghan University FC, doubled the lead with a strike just one minute later to ensure that Rita Guarino’s side collected a full set of points.
Inter have registered 10 points from three wins and a draw whilst Sampdoria, on inferior goal difference, slipped from second to third on the standings on nine points from three wins in four matches.
AS Roma came back from a goal down to win 2-1 against Fiorentina who suffered their first defeat of the season away at Stadio Tre Fontane on Saturday.
Fiorentina opened the scoring through forward Michela Catena in the 28th minute with an assist from Serbian striker Milica Mijatović and the match would go to half-time with the visitors in the lead.
Let's hope it doesn't become a habit, otherwise my coronaries will struggle. It was a great game, especially in the second half, because if you go behind against a team that makes restarts their best weapon, then it becomes difficult — Alessandro Spugna
Former LSK Kvinner striker Sophie Roman Haug replied for the home team eight minutes into the second half with an assist from Spanish forward Paloma Lázaro before 58thsubstitute striker Valentina Giacinti doubled the lead for Roma 15 minutes from full-time with an assist from forward Emile Haavi to secure maximum points for Le Giallorosse.
Roma coach Alessandro Spugna, however, expressed concern that his troops are lately having to do come-backs in order to win matches. Roma also came from a goal down to win 2-1 in their UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) match against Sparta Praha last Wednesday.
“Let's hope it doesn't become a habit, otherwise my coronaries will struggle. It was a great game, especially in the second half, because if you go behind against a team that makes restarts their best weapon, then it becomes difficult. Instead, we were good at picking up the game and making a great second half, winning the game and even having two or three situations towards the end to close it. Three points are deserved. In fact, there are almost six, as it was. It was really complicated,” Spugna told Roma TV after the match.
The win saw Roma shoot to second from fifth on the standings on nine points from four matches whilst Fiorentina, on inferior goal difference, slipped from first to fourth on nine points from three wins in the same number of matches.
Maurizio Ganz led AC Milan to their second victory of the season with a 4-0 demolition of Serie A newcomers Parma away on Saturday.
Forward Valentina Bergamaschi opened the account for the Rossonere with a strike 16 minutes into the second half before fellow forward Kosovare Asllani doubled the lead for the visitors 20 minutes later with an assist from midfielder Kamila Dubcova.
Defender Sara Andersen tripled the lead for AC Milan with a strike just three minutes into the second half after pouncing on a rebound from a missed penalty by forward Lindsey Thomas. Dubcova made it 4-0 with a strike 11 minutes from full time with an assist from defender Linda Tucceri Cimini.
Milan remain sixth on the standings on six points from two wins in four outings whilst Parma remain seventh on three points from one win in the same number of matches.
ASD Pomigliano shared the spoils with Serie A newcomers Como with a two-all draw at the Stadio Ugo Gobbato on Sunday.
Como opened the scoring through Italian forward Chiara Beccari 14 minutes into the first half before Brazilian forward Tatiely Sena das Neves equalised for the hosts with a strike on 21 minutes with an assist from fellow forward Alice Corelli and the match would go to half-time with the teams level.
Das Neves made it 2-1 for Pomigliano from the penalty spot nine minutes into the second half before 82ndminute substitute midfielder Vivien Beil equalised for Como one minute before the death of regulation time to rescue a point for the visitors.
The draw saw Pomigliano rise from ninth to eighth on the standings on one point from one draw in four matches whilst Como rose from bottom of the log to ninth on one point from one draw in the same number of matches.
RESULTS (Saturday): Sassuolo 1 – 1 Juventus; Parma 0 – 4 AC Milan; AS Roma 2 – 1 Fiorentina
RESULST (Sunday): Pomigliano 2 – 2 Como; Sampdoria 0 – 2 Inter Milan