Serie A Women's Cup, The Match Report of Juventus-Como Women

The Como Women’s second fixture in the Serie A Women’s Cup ended in a 1-0 defeat. At the “Alessandro La Marmora - Pozzo” Stadium in Biella, the Lariane were beaten by Juventus, who scored the decisive goal in the 13th minute through Khelifi.

In the 9th minute, Como Women created the first chance of the game following a counterattack down the left. Bergersen sent a dangerous low cross into the box, but Bernardi was anticipated by Juventus defender Sylla, who inadvertently redirected the ball towards goal. Rusek was alert and managed to intervene just a metre from the goal line. Juventus created their first opportunity in the 13th minute, when Serturini got ahead of the Como Women defence on the right and delivered an inviting ball into the box for Bonansea, who found herself one-on-one with Gilardi. The Como goalkeeper was excellent, however, staying big to deny the Juventus forward. The breakthrough came just a minute later. Khelifi received the ball on the left inside the box and produced a precise finish into the top corner, leaving Gilardi with no chance. Como Women tried to respond in the 18th minute through their captain, Nischler, who received the ball in the box and attempted to turn towards the near post, but her effort went wide. In the 32nd minute, Nesbeth won the ball in midfield and, after a one-two with Nischler, attempted a low diagonal from distance, but the ball went wide. Como Women threatened again in the 35th minute. Bernardi found Chidiac with a backheel, and the midfielder then looked for Nielsen with a through ball down the left. D’Auria read the situation well, anticipated the Como forward and put the ball out for a corner. In stoppage time at the end of the first half, Juventus came close to doubling their lead from a free-kick. Following a scramble inside the box, D’Auria found room for a shot, but her effort was blocked by the Como Women defence. The first half ended with Juventus holding a narrow lead.

Juventus threatened again immediately after the restart, with Godo played through by Khelifi, but her effort narrowly missed the outside of the post. In the 52nd minute, Como Women came close to an equaliser through Bergersen, who tried a diagonal effort from the left edge of the box, but her shot went wide. Three minutes later, the Lariane created another great chance. Borbye delivered a cross from the right for Nielsen, who controlled the ball with her chest in front of goal, but Noordman did brilliantly to get in front of her and clear the danger for a corner. In the 62nd minute, Nielsen tried her luck from outside the box, with her effort taking a deflection and going out for a corner. Juventus came close to a second goal in the 69th minute when substitute Redondo found herself one-on-one with Gilardi and attempted an outside-of-the-foot finish. The Como goalkeeper was once again excellent, getting a hand to the shot and turning it behind for a corner. Four minutes later, Juventus threatened again through Godo, who rose highest from a corner but sent her header narrowly past the far post. In the 88th minute, Como Women came close to an equaliser through Vigilucci, who struck first time from the edge of the box, aiming for the top corner. Rusek produced an excellent save to turn the ball behind for a corner. In stoppage time, Juventus came close to making it 2-0 through Serturini, whose left-footed effort from inside the box was deflected behind by the Como defence. The match therefore ended in a narrow defeat for Tramezzani’s side, who remain on one point in Group C of the Serie A Women’s Cup.

Como Women’s next Serie A Women’s Cup fixture will be on Sunday, September 6 at 12:30 PM, when Tramezzani’s side will face Como 1907 in the derby at the “Mino Favini” Stadium in Meda.

Match Summary

Juventus: 21 Rusek; 16 Noordman, 71 Lenzini, 4 Sylla (87’ Salvai), 27 D'Auria (64’ Carbonell); 29 Pinto, 6 Schatzer (80’ Pavan), 26 Khelifi (64’ Redondo); 15 Serturini, 17 Stolen Godo, 11 Bonansea (64’ Chiba). Head Coach: Isaac Guerrero

Substitutions: 1 De Jong, 8 Rosucci, 40 Mallardi, 43 Mece, 45 Viljamaa.

Como Women: 22 Gilardi; 2 Marcussen, 3 Ronan (80’ Cecotti), 5 Howard; 77 Borbye, 10 Chidiac (80’ Moretti), 13 Nesbeth (84’ Mas I Serra), 6 Bergersen (80’ Vigilucci); 7 Nischler; 9 Bernardi (65’ Zamboni), 12 Nielsen. Head Coach: Paolo Tramezzani

Substitutions: 8 Hubaut, 11 Berisha, 20 Simonetti, 21 Viesti, 24 Bianchi, 30 Ruma, 32 Babb. 

Scorers: 13’ Khelifi (J)

Yellow Cards: Chidiac (C), Sylla (J), Nischler (C)

Referee and Assistants: Simone Gauzolino, Vincenzo D’Ambrosio Giordano, Gheorghe Mititelu, Costanzo Cafaro