Serie A Women's Cup, Fiorentina-Como Women: the match report

Como Women’s debut in the inaugural Serie A Women’s Cup ends in defeat, as the team falls 2–0 to Fiorentina in their opening Group B fixture. The group also includes Inter and Genoa.

In the match held at Viola Park in Florence, Stefano Sottili’s team fought bravely and created several chances, but it was the hosts who came away with all three points.

First Half

Como Women started strong and nearly took the lead in the 4th minute when Nadine Nischler, played in by Matilde Pavan, struck from close range, but her shot was deflected just under the crossbar by the Fiorentina goalkeeper.

Fiorentina took the lead in the 22nd minute: Curmark picked up the ball on the edge of the box and fired a powerful right-footed shot into the top corner, to the left of Gilardi, who could do nothing to stop it.

Como reacted immediately. Just one minute later, Pavan tried her luck from distance, but her effort went just wide of the post. In the 36th minute, it was Kramzar who rose well in the center of the area for a header, but her attempt missed the target.

In stoppage time, Como had another chance: Nischler received a pass from Lehmann but dragged her low shot wide. The teams went into the break with Fiorentina leading 1–0.

Second Half

At the start of the second half, Kramzar found herself one-on-one with the goal in the 47th minute, but her shot resulted in a corner. From that very corner, in the 48th minute, newly-substituted Alex Kerr came close to leveling the score, hitting the post with a close-range effort. Como Women continued to push with determination in search of the equalizer.

Fiorentina, however, responded with dangerous chances of their own: Bonfantini went close in the 63rd minute, followed by Catena in the 68th, and Wijnants tested Gilardi with a central shot in the 71st.

The second goal came in the 75th minute: after a corner, Færge controlled the ball in the box and slotted a precise right-footed shot into the bottom left corner.

Tensions flared in the 80th minute when Van der Zanden was shown a red card for violent conduct in the box. Despite the numerical advantage, Como couldn’t capitalize and reopen the match. There were more attempts late on from Kerr (84’) and Kramzar in stoppage time, but Fiorentina’s defense held firm.

Como Women will now prepare for their next Group B match, which will be played at home on Sunday, September 7 at 20:30 against Genoa, at the Stadio Ferruccio in Seregno (MB).

Match Summary:

Fiorentina: 1 Fiskerstrand; 20 Orsi, 22 Van Der Zanden, 44 Faerge; 11 Wijnants (80' Johansen), 77 Curmark (80' Hurtig), 21 Severini (C), 18 Snerle (45' Catena); 27 Tryggvadottir (60' Cherubini); 9 Janogy, 4 Bonfantini (67' Woldvik). Allenatore: Pablo Pinones Arce

Substitutes: 12 Agostini, 15 Bredgaard, 19 Della Peruta, 23 Bettineschi, 28 Sarti, 29 Benedettini, 85 Filangeri. 

Como Women: 22 Gilardi; 6 Bergersen, 24 Rizzon (C), 5 Howard, 18 Szabò (81' Marcussen); 28 Madsen (81' Picchi), 20 Vaitukaityte, 19 Pavan (72' Berisha); 33 Kramzar, 7 Nischler; 77 Lehmann (45' Kerr). Allenatore: Stefano Sottili

Substitutes: 1 Schroffenegger, 15 Gelbhart, 17 Sagen, 23 D'Agostino, 30 Ruma.

Scorers: 22' Curmark (F), 75' Faerge (F);

Yellow cards: 73' Severini (F); 74' Kramzar (C);

Red Cards: 80' Van Der Zanden (F);

Referee and assistants: Colelli Alessandro, D’Ascanio Roberto, Brizzi Valerio e Elia Antonio