Juventus continued their perfect start to the Serie A season with a thrilling come-from-behind win against Roma at the Stadio Tre Fontane on Saturday afternoon.
It was always going to be a tight game, with both teams entering Saturday’s encounter with a 100% record.
The visiting Bianconeri first signaled their attacking intent through Barbara Bonasea, whose quick feet and resulting cross failed to find the desired target in the centre of the box.
Roma looked to launch several attacks of their own, coming closest through Pirone whose 13th minute header went wide of the mark. The Bianconere easily dealt with the early pressure Roma threw at them, danger-woman Andressa trying her best to cause problems down the left, yet the Juve defense made sure they had an answer each time.
Yet their resistance was finally broken, for the first time this season, in the 28th minute, Roma attacking down the right this time with Glionna finding an unmarked Greggi in the box. Her goal-bound strike brought out a diving save from goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, yet the parried rebound was tucked into the back of the net by Di Guglielmo to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
With their tails up, Roma went in search of a second, Martina Lenzini making superb cover tackle on Andressa with ten minutes to go in the half.
The best chance of the first-half for the visitors came two minutes from the break as Valentina Cernoia’s floated cross found last season’s top-scorer Cristiana Girelli, who was only able to guide her header into the side-netting.
The Bianconere started the second stanza on the front foot, Hurtig lining up a shot on goal which took a deflection that the opposition goalkeeper was able to easily gather.
Moments later it was Roma who were on the attack, Serturini finding space down the left before laying the ball off for Andressa, whose long-range effort failed to trouble Peyraud-Magnin.
Roma continued to pressure the White and Black goal, Peyraud-Magnin being kept busy to ensure the hosts did not extend their lead. Serturini found space once again to run at the Juve backline, cutting inside and unleashing a curling effort which Peyraud-Magnin comfortably grabbed with both hands.
However, the Bianconere soon found their grove, and were back on level terms in spectacular fashion: Martina Rosucci produced a wonderous strike from outside the box, beating the keeper all ends up, the ball ricocheting in off the woodwork to bring the defending Serie A champions back into the game.
Thereafter it was wave after wave of Bianconere attack, the visitors determined to continue their perfect run of form so far this season and find a winning goal.
Substitute Agnese Bonfantini used her fresh legs to run at pace at the Roma backline, arrowing her goal-bound effort towards the far post which forced a good save from the opposing shot-stopper.
A thunderous Matilde Lundorf strike from 30 metres out almost made its way into the back of the net, but soon after, Juventus would finally have their goal, super-sub Andrea Staskova nodding in a corner to put the visitors in front with three minutes left to play.
And 2-1 it would remain, a spirited victory for the Bianconere who match the record of 29 consecutive victories in Serie A to maintain their perfect start to the 2021/22 campiagn.
Line-up: Peyraud-Magnin, Hyyrynen, Salvai, Lenzini (58’ Lundorf), Boattin, Rosucci (80’ Staskova), Pedersen, Cernoia (69’ Caruso), Bonansea (80’ Bonfantini), Girelli, Hurtig
Subs: Aprile, Nilden, Zamanian, Beccari, Pfattner