Juventus progressed to the final of the Coppa Italia final by claiming a 3-2 aggregate win over Milan. Glionna came off the bench to put Juventus in front, while Milan responded late through a strike by Giugliano, as the game ended 1-1.
Rita Guarino’s ladies came into the encounter having claimed a previous 2-1 away victory when they took to the field in March for the first leg.
The opening stages of the game had a good ebb and flow to it, with the ball moving freely across the field. The first chance fell to Milan’s Alborghetti, who run down the middle to fire a powerful effort that went high of the goal frame.
The Rossonere then threatened again in the 23rd minute when Giacinti found some space and was able to fire a powerful effort that rattled the crossbar. Juventus then enjoyed two great attacking moment of play: Bonansea's free-kick was cleared by Heroum, while the second hit the woodwork.
Milan were dealt a blow when Mendes had to be stretchered off due to a knee injury, forcing the visitors to make a double change before the break.
Bonansea had a series of half chances fall to her after the interval, but her efforts either sailed high or wide of the goal, leaving Korenciova untested. Alborghetti also struck an effort straight down the middle of the goal; Giuliani gathered it with ease.
After the hour mark, Guarino opted to introduce Glionna into the game in place of Aluko, and the change had an immediate impact. Girelli went one-on-one with Korenciova, who parried the striker’s effort, but the ball fell into the path of Glionna, who made no mistake and struck home less than a minute after her introduction.
The Bianconere had the second half under their control, which saw Perdersen try to nod the ball into the net, but it was dealt with by Milan. The Vismara outfit then pulled a goal back off a set-piece through Giugliano in the 82nd minute.
Juventus’ ladies held out strong for the remainder of the game, as they progressed to the final of the Coppa Italia Femminile.
“It was a very important week for us,” explains Tuija Hyyrynen. “Everything is going in the right direction. Now we are in the final and we can do the double, I am very happy to be part of such a strong team.”
“Milan was a really tough opponent, and it was a really difficult match to bring home,” comments Rita Guarino. “I give my congratulations to the girls: we are enjoying this moment and from tomorrow we will start thinking about Saturday, which will be a final for us, and then next week we will think about the Coppa Italia final. Fiorentina or Roma in the final? Both are teams that play football very well, but anyway, it will be a final so it doesn’t matter who the opponent is. We have grown a lot since the beginning of the year, both in terms of tactics and mentality, and the margins for improvement are still very high.”
Juventus Women XI: Giuliani, Hyyrynen, Ekroth, Gama, Sikora; Caruso, Pedersen, Galli; Bonansea, Aluko (Glionna 58’), Girelli (Rosucci 71’)
Substitutes: Bacic, Franco, Rosucci, Panzeri, Nick, Cantore, Glionna
Milan XI: Korenciova; Heroum, Fusetti, Mendes (Carissimi 41’), Tucceri (Zigic 41’); Alborghetti, Thaisa (Longo 78’), Giugliano; Bergamaschi, Sabatino, Giacinti
Substitutes: Ceasar, Carissimi, Capelli, Zigic, Manieri, Longo, Coda