11 December 2022
Juventus Women ended their domestic 2022 on a high by collecting three points away to Serie A leaders Roma. In a six-goal thriller between Italy's top two sides, which included a brace from Lineth Beerensteyn, Juve came from behind to win 4-2, ending the Giallorosse's eight match winning streak in the league.
With Serie A taking a break until January, the Bianconere cut the gap to the top of the table to just three points.
THE MATCH
The encounter could not have started in a more complicated manner.
Despite forcing a corner in the first minute, Juve were a goal down one minute later. From the corner kick, Roma won back possession and hit on the counter attack. Manuela Giugliano played a pass behind the Bianconere defence into the path of Annamaria Serturini, who took one touch before stabbing the ball into the bottom corner.
Falling behind away to the league leaders did not throw Juve off their game, if anything it made the defending champions even more determined.
Sara Gunnarsdóttir, back in the starting line-up - but whose action-packed involvement would last just beyond the half-hour mark because of injury - played a fundamental role in turning the match around.
First the Iceland international crashed a header off the crossbar after 10 minutes. Juve had to wait just four minutes more before drawing level. Again Gunnarsdóttir was involved, playing a precise through-ball for Lineth Beerensteyn. The winger used her pace to burst through the heart of the Roma defence to expertly finish.
With the scoreline level, Roma hit the bar through a miss-hit cross by Emilie Haavi but it was Juve that continued to impose their game on the hosts. Martina Lenzini played a one-two at the edge of the area on 25 minutes before hitting a sweet half-volley, which was tipped over by Camelia Ceasar.
On 37’ Cristiana Girelli completed a first-half turnaround with the finest of touches following a Lisa Boattin free-kick that had not been cleared effectively by the Giallorosse. A shot on the rebound by Arianna Caruso broke into the path of Julia Grosso, whose effort - perhaps already goal bound - was touched into the net by the number 10.
The second half started in the same manner as the first, with Roma finding the net.
Valentina Giacinti was the quickest to react inside the box following a Maeka Minami header. The striker’s shot struck the post. Pouncing on the rebound was Andressa, who slammed the ball into the net.
Giacinti then almost put the home team back in front from a cross from the right but the close attention from Sembrant was enough to unsettle the home striker, whose shot went wide.
With the match becoming a battle for supremacy in midfield, it required a moment’s clarity for Juve to restore their advantage. Grosso won the ball in the centre of the park and quickly played the ball into space for Beerensteyn. Faced by two Roma defenders, the number 18 bided her time before placing the ball into the far corner with an angled shot. A goal of the highest quality.
Juve opened a two-goal cushion with just over 10 minutes to play. A Caruso corner fell to Grosso, whose first shot was blocked but played back into her path by Sembrant. The Canadian’s second effort was unstoppable.
Juve saw out the remainder of the match without too many scares at the back. Roma fell to only their second defeat of the season, both to Juventus, who now turn their attention back the Champions League and the two group matches that see out the year.
ROMA 2-4 JUVENTUS (HT: 1-2)
SCORERS: 3’ Serturini (R), 14’ & 67’ Beerensteyn (J), 38’ Girelli (J), 49’ Andressa (R), 79’ Grosso (J).
ROMA: Ceasar; Bartoli, Wenninger, Linari (80′ Ciccotti), Minami; Greggi, Giugliano; Haavi, Andressa (69′ Glionna), Serturini (80′ Haug); Giacinti. Subs not used: Ohrstrom, Cinotti, Landstrom, Kollmats, Lazaro, Kramzar. Coach: Spugna.
JUVENTUS: Peyraud-Magnin; Lenzini, Sembrant, Salvai, Boattin; Gunnarsdottir (33′ Caruso), Pedersen, Grosso (86′ Zamanian); Cantore (73′ Cernoia), Girelli, Beerensteyn (86′ Bonfantini). Subs not used: Aprile, Duljan, Lundorf, Rosucci, Bonansea. Coach: Montemurro.
Referee: Maggio.
BOOKINGS: 38′ Serturini (R), 44′ Boattin (J), 71′ Pedersen (J), 81′ Beerensteyn (J), 81′ Giacinti (R).
