Juventus Women kicked their Poule Scudetto off on Sunday in lively fashion with six goals and the points being shared as they faced Inter in Milan.
The Bianconere twice came from behind and then even led, but a late Inter goal left things level.
The match
The first half was relatively evenly balanced, with three penalties being awarded and the woodwork being hit three times as well. Juventus went close with Arianna Caruso early on, but then Flaminia Simonetti put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot before a quarter of an hour had been played.
Lineth Beerensteyn was sparked into life though and caused Inter problems, then winning a penalty for the Bianconere. But Cristiana Girelli suffered the misfortune of her effort thumping the post. Three minutes later, though, Juve had another penalty won by Beerensteyn. Girelli wasn’t to miss twice, slotting calmly out of Francesca Durante’s reach.
Inter took the lead again early in the second half, pouncing on a defensive error. But Juventus responded with goals from Caruso and then substitute Joe Echegini to lead. Chances came to put the contest to bed, but none were taken.
Eventually, at the end, Annamaria Serturini levelled for Inter, ensuring the points would be shared at the end of a dramatic afternoon.
ZAPPELLA'S POST-MATCH COMMENTS
“There’s regret for the chances we wasted, and there were a lot. Other teams take a lot from games against us without creating much, but we create a lot and don’t take the points home with us.
“I’m happy that I saw what I asked the girls to do on the pitch, and their attitude was the right one. Now my job and the staff’s job is to restore the balance of the team. We suffer too often from counterattacks.
“[Joe] Echegini has been thrown into a completely new environment and a new reality for her, she found herself at Vinovo and with the most successful club in Italy, so she’s managed things well. She had a good impact when she came on, and we’ll look to get the most of what she can offer from here on.
“[Asia] Bragonzi is a strong centre-forward and I’m sure that she too would say that she can do more. But she has all my respect and you’ll see her on the pitch again, either from the start or from the bench. I want to make the most of the potential of this whole squad. Today she had a hard time against a good defence.
“I’m happy that the team is playing more directly and using the wings better, that was something we were lacking and of course there’s the fact that we concede too many goals - the staff and I will work to fix this.”
INTER 3-3 JUVENTUS WOMEN 3-3
Goals: 16’ Simonetti (I), 38’ Girelli rig. (J), 50' Cambiaghi (I), 57' Caruso (J), 63' Echegini (J), 85' Serturini (I)
Inter: Bowen, Bonfantini (19’st Bugeja), Serturini, Foerdos, Simonetti (Cap) (19’st Magull), Durante, Milinkovic, Thoegersen, Csiszar (32’st Jelcic), Cambiaghi (26’st Polli), Tomter (26’st Robustellini).
Unused subs: Pandini, Cetinja, Trevisan, Fadda.
Coach: Maria Rita Guarino
Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin, Lenzini, Calligaris, Salvai (Cap), Cascarino, Caruso, Grosso, Girelli (28’st Gunnarsdottir), Beerensteyn (28’st Garbino), Bragonzi (14’st Echegini), Thomas (36’st Bonansea).
Unused subs: Aprile, Gama, Cafferata, Nystrom, Gallina.
Coach: Giuseppe Zappella
Referee: Andrea Ancora
Asssistants: Ferdinando Pizzoni, Emanuele Renzullo
Fourth Official: Paolo Rodolfo Benestante
Bookings: 68' Fordos (I), 95' Lenzini (J)