The perfect evening in Biella.
Juventus Women’s First Team completely dominated their encounter with Fiorentina, especially the second half, and consequently ran out 4-0 winners.
With this victory, their fourth in a row, the Bianconere go top of the Serie A table as outright leaders. The four goals in the match were courtesy of Arianna Caruso, Amalie Vangsgaard, Paulina Krumbiegel and Martina Rosucci .
THE MATCH REPORT
CARUSO GIVES JUVE THE ADVANTAGE BEFORE HALFTIME
The start of the match was intense and, in fact, it took less than five minutes before Juventus created their first big chance of the game: Martina Lenzini picked out Caruso who, unintentionally, found Vangsgaard unmarked in the middle of the penalty area, but the Danish forward was unlucky and saw her attempt crash against the outside of the post to the right of Cecilie Fiskerstrand.
Vangsgaard's effort was certainly the best opportunity of the first quarter of an hour. The Bianconere continued to push on, but Fiorentina fought back and the Tuscan team came dangerously close to taking the lead in the 23rd minute via a long-distance shot from Agnese Bonfantini, however, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin was on hand to deal with the danger.
Three minutes later it was again Massimiliano Canzi’s side who threatened to open the scroring, again through Vangsgaard who took advantage of a defensive error by Marina Georgieva, before seeing her effort skim the crossbar. Shortly afterwards, Barbara Bonansea also had an effort on goal - with Vangsgaard turning provider on this occasion - but Fiskerstrand did well to keep the scores level.
Ten minutes after Fiorentina’s first and only chance up to that point, La Viola had another opportunity to take the lead when Michela Catena reacted quickest to the rebound after Peyraud-Magnin’s save from Luisa Filangeri’s initial effort, but she was unable to hit the target.
The Fiorentina opportunity spurred Juventus on to go down the other end and, in the 39th minute, they opened the scoring from a perfectly executed set-piece routine. Eva Schatzer delivered a cross from the right to find Caruso who had lost her marker and fired home a first-time effort from around the penalty spot to give the Bianconere the lead.
The halftime whistle came shortly after the opening goal, with Juventus leading 1-0 at the interval.
VANGSGAARD, KRUMBIEGEL AND ROSUCCI PUT THE GAME TO BED
The start of the second half saw Juventus continue to build on the good work they had put in during the first period. The Bianconere were playing well all across the pitch and looked especially dangerous on the attack. Less than ten minutes into the second half Vangsgaard doubled their lead with a screamer: the Dane received the ball on the left, before turning towards goal, evading Georgieva’s challenge, and letting off a right-footed shot that crept inside the far post, 2-0. A big round of applause for her and for her Bianconere teammates.
The second goal took the wind out of Fiorentina’s sails. Our girls took advantage of this and in the 68th minute they scored a third through one of the players who had been introduced as a substitute: Bonansea found the run of Krumbiegel who guided a precise right-footed effort in off the post to beat Fiskerstrand, 3-0.
In the closing stages, Fiorentina sought a consolation goal but they were denied by Peyraud-Magnin's super stop from Madelen Janogy’s attempt and a few minutes later Alexandra Johannsdottir saw her header rattle the Juve crossbar.
The action was by no means over in Biella. The three points were in the bag, but there was space for another splendid chapter of Bianconere history. On the 88th minute, just a few minutes after coming on, Martina Rosucci – wearing the captain’s armband – scored upon her return. Praise must be given to Vangsgaard who unselfishly squared the ball to her captain whilst bearing down on goal, allowing Rosucci to roll the ball in from close range, 4-0.
An excellent note on which to end a perfect evening in Biella as Rosucci celebrated with her teammates and the fans.
COACH CANZI'S COMMENTS
“As I have always said, we focus on one game at a time. We are becoming a team, day by day. Of course there will also be difficult moments to come, but at the moment we enjoy these results, with the knowledge that we have the potential to develop a lot more. I am really very happy with tonight's win against Fiorentina because we beat a great team, coached by a great coach. I really liked the team's performance in the second half. In the first half we conceded three opportunities to our opponents, all from situations in which we had the ball, while in the second half the team minimised errors and our quality emerged. Vangsgaard? Amalie is a great player and a very good girl. I think she had great game, both defensively and going forward. The goal she scored was a masterpiece and then the assist for Rosucci is testimony to how she always knows how to read the moments of the match perfectly.”
MARTINA ROSUCCI’S THOUGHTS
“As soon as I stepped onto the pitch, I felt there was a special energy, but I never thought I would score again. I am experiencing very strong emotions right now and it is difficult to explain them. I think, though, that the strength of our group this year can be seen through my goal. Amalie [Vangsgaard]'s selfless play is extraordinary, we always play for each other and that is our strength. There is an extraordinary connection to this shirt and it must always remain like that. Today, here in Biella, my dad was in the stands, but I'm sure my mum and brother followed me from home too. It was a perfect evening. I'm a new person, I feel great and I'm enjoying this happiness, starting with the small positive moments. Tonight, before entering the pitch, [Sofia] Cantore asked me to give her a birthday present, so this goal is also hers on such a special day for her.”
JUVENTUS WOMEN 4-0 FIORENTINA
Stadio Vittorio Pozzo Lamarmora (Biella), Monday 30 September, 2024 at 18:00 (CEST)
Goals: 39’ Caruso (J), 55’ Vangsgaard (J), 67’ Krumbiegel (J), 88’ Rosucci (J)
Juventus: Peyraud Magnin, Lenzini, Kullberg, Cascarino, Thomas (84’ Bragonzi), Schatzer, Caruso (71’ Rosucci), Bergamaschi (60’ Krumbiegel), Cantore (60’ Bennison), Vangsgaard, Bonansea (70’ Lehmann).
Unused Substitutes: Gama, Girelli, Beccari, Pelgander, Calligaris, Capelletti, Proulx.
Coach: Massimiliano Canzi.
Away Team: Fiskerstrand, Erzen (63’ Toniolo), Georgieva (83’ Pastrenge), Filangeri, Faerge, Snerle (74’ Johannsdottir), Severini, Bonfantini (83’ Breitner), Janogy, Catena (74’ Longo), Boquete.
Unused Substitutes: Durante, Tomassoni, Zaghini, Mailia, Bettineschi.
Coach: Sebastian de la Fuente.
Referee: Dario Madonia
Assistants: Davide Merciari, Francesco Tagliaferri
Bookings: 36’ Severini (F), 38’ Filangeri (F)
Next Match:
Sampdoria-Juventus Women
Women’s Serie A
Saturday, 5 October, 2024 at 18:00 (CEST)
Stadio La Sciorba