The second Champions League match in three days and Juventus Women produced another winning display to progress beyond the Round 1 mini-tournament and qualify for Round 2. Joe Montemurro kept just four players from the semi-final starting line-up and it was two of the players drafted in from kick-off that produced the spark that eventually broke down Kiryat Gat’s stubborn defence when Sara Gunnarsdottir picked out Sofia Cantore.
After having edged in front the Bianconere did not look back and added further goals through Annahita Zamanian just after the break and Arianna Caruso in the final minute.
CANTORE RELISHES HER RETURN
Three of the back four held down their starter’s places, while it was almost all change from midfield to attack with Barbara Bonansea, wearing the captain’s armband, the only survivor as Coach Montemurro used the full depth of his squad.
It was the deep lying tactics employed by Kiryat Gat, Israel’s domestic treble winners, that made life awkward for the Bianconere, who had to wait 20 minutes before earning their first corner. On the half hour mark penalty claims were waved away by the match official after Lineth Beerenstyn went down inside the penalty area. That was a sign that Juventus were beginning to find space in the opposition half, and so it proved five minutes later. Gunnarsdottir played a ball through the middle for the run of Cantore. The striker evaded the goalkeeper as she rushed off her line to touch the ball into the net. The number 9’s second debut was one to remember.
GAME OF PATIENCE
Annahita Zamanian stepped forward after the restart to give Juve some breathing space with the home side’s second goal. The midfielder had tested Fortuna Rubin in the Kiryat Gat goal before the break but her looping left footed effort on the spin gave the visiting keeper no chance as the ball nestled into the far corner.
The Israeli champions opened up the contest almost immediately, however. Dany Helena added to her first match hat-trick with another goal, a header that sneaked past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
Juventus responded. Zamanian went just wide, Beerenstyn turned at the edge of the six-yard box only to see her shot blocked by Kiryat Gat’s veteran Brazilian defender, Ana, then Lisa Boattin hit a shot through a ruck of players, which was tipped over. The pressure did not produce another goal in that moment, but the game of patience paid off in the final minute when Arianna Caruso headed home from close range to seal the result, and earn Juventus Women a deserved place in the urn for the second round - the draw to be made on September 1st.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
Joe Montemurro: "We faced a team that sat back and waited, but we did well to find a way through. We played our match and I also had the chance to rotate the squad. Cantore had been out for some time, so it was great for her to start the way she did. These matches are important because they force you to find the answers. Now we need to be able to up the tempo."
Sofia Cantore: "I am delighted for the goal. It's important for a striker to get off the mark. I hadn't played for a while and scoring gives you belief. I'm happy with the win, it's a good starting point. I like to run deep so when Sara (Gunnardsottir, ndr) played the ball over the top I knew I had time to get the better of their keeper. Teams like that block the space and it becomes difficult for us to create chances but we kept moving - it something we need to work on though."
Arianna Caruso: "We want to go far in the competition. I am happy with how we have set off. We've still got work to do but these matches will help us both in Europe and at home. I follow what the coach asks of me, then, if I can manage to score, it's even better."
JUVENTUS WOMEN 3-1 KIRYAT GAT (HT: 1-0)
SCORERS: 35’ Cantore (J), 48’ Zamanian (J), 52’ Dany Helena (K), 90’ Caruso (J)
JUVENTUS
Peyraud-Magnin; Lundorf, Pedersen (64’ Nilden), Sembrant, Boattin; Zamanian (75’ Lenzini), Gunnarsdottir, Cernoia; Bonansea (64’ Caruso), Cantore (64’ Grosso), Beerenstyn (82’ Girelli).
Subs not used: Aprile, Forcinella, Duljan,, Rosucci, Pfattner, Arcangeli, Bonfantini.
Coach: Montemurro.
KIRYAT GAT
Rubin; Rantissi, Carol Arruda, Plaskievics, Nakav; Abudea (75’ Workou), Edri (82’ Horovitz), Sofer, Sandrinha, Khalil (89’ Biru); Dany Helena.
Subs not used: De Russo, Zecharia, Shalom, Nagar, Zelikowitz.
Coach: Sade.
Referee: Martinez
Assistants: Pino, Došen
Fourth Official: Celik