Juventus Women extended their lead at the top of the Serie A standings to eight points, following today’s exceptional win against Milan at the Juventus Training Center in Vinovo.
The Rossonere came quickest out of the blocks and took the lead at Vinovo when Greta Adami struck after just two minutes of play. However, the Bianconere hit back immediately and were level just four minutes later. Cristiana Girelli took the free-kick and ex-Bianconera, Laura Giuliani beat away her former teammate’s strike but Andrea Staskova was there to slot the ball home.
The action was end-to-end and on the 21-minute mark, Sofie Pedersen pushed forward and her drive was just wide of the Milan goal, as Cecilia Salvai had to then make a crucial intervention to deny Valentina Giacinti. Joe Montemurro’s girls re-took the lead on 36 minutes, when Giuliani made a costly error under pressure from Barbara Bonansea to lose possession and have the ball go into the net.
Milan fought straight back and after being involved in the goal, Bonansea felled Lindsey Thomas in the Bianconere box to concede a penalty kick to the visitors. Giacinti stepped up and her spot-kick was brilliantly turned away by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin to have Juve go into the break leading after an adrenaline-packed half!
Into the second period, the two sides continued to go back and forth, but it was Milan next to strike. Close to 20 minutes from time, Refiloe Jane’s ball from deep picked out substitute, Miriam Longo and the forward finished past Peyraud-Magnin to make it 2-2. The action wasn’t over by a long-shot and just three minutes later Juve were awarded a penalty when Gudny Arnadottir blocked Lisa Boattin’s shot with her hand. Boattin picked up the ball and sent Giuliani the wrong way to make it 3-2!
The visitors came forward to try to level once more and the Bianconere struck on the counter, with Bonansea’s cross into the box eluding Giuliani for Staskova to tap in and put a two-goal cushion between Juve and Milan at 4-2. The game was put beyond any doubt in stoppage time, when substitute, Lina Hurtig gathered the ball on the left-hand side, got into the Milan box and unleashed a low-angled drive into the back of the net to make it 5!
With the final whistle sounding at Vinovo, the Bianconere claimed another incredible win to close out 2021 eight points clear at the top of the Serie A table!