15 April 2024
The Bianconere left the capital empty-handed on Monday evening, falling to a 2-1 defeat away to Roma. Having fallen behind early, Cristiana Girelli struck in the second half to restore parity before the hosts went on to score a late winner after Barbara Bonansea received a red card.
THE MATCH
Alayah Pilgrim put Roma ahead early on. After getting the ball out on the left, she cut into the box and finished beyond Pauline Peyraud-Magnin in the Bianconere goal. Juventus looked to react through Lisa Boattin and Joe Echegini.
Arianna Caruso came closest for the Bianconere. Lineth Beerensteyn teed Caru up on the edge of the area, and her cushioned left-footed effort dropped narrowly over the crossbar, just not coming down enough to pick out the top corner.
But with Cristiana Girelli on the pitch, there’s always a chance of a goal coming. Our No.10 has scored more times against Roma than any other player, and she managed another in the second half on Monday by turning in an Caruso cross.
Pilgrim continued to be a threat, but Viola Calligaris did well to shut her down on a couple of occasions.
The Bianconere tried to find a winner with Barbara Bonansea, Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir and Sofia Cantore among the introductions as the game wore on. Boattin came close with a fierce free-kick that looked to have Camelia Caesar in the hosts’ goal troubled.
But Bonansea picked up two yellow cards for challenges at either end of the pitch and saw herself shown a red card late on. Manuela Giugliano sent a free-kick wide after Bonansea’s second booking.
With Juventus down to 10, Roma struck again. This time it was Evelyne Viens who beat Peyraud-Magnin, after her own effort and a follow-up shot from Emilie Haavi had been blocked.
And with the scoring finishing there, the points stayed in Rome despite our Bianconere's best efforts.
CECILIA SALVAI’S POST-MATCH COMMENTS
“We’re disappointed to lose. Of course nobody likes to lose. Today we gave a lot on the pitch but it wasn’t enough. Whether we win or lose it’s important to stay united, to be a group, and that’s what we said at the end of the game. Maybe we were a little cautious early on and Roma were able to take the lead by taking one of the first chances they had. The same can be said for what happened at the end, they took advantage of a situation that fell their way. The only regret is that we started a little slowly. We have to improve on this in the last five games of the season. Everything depends on ourselves, and it will be together that we go again and end the season the best way we can.”
Roma 2-1 Juventus Women
Goals: 4’ Pilgrim (R), 47’ Girelli (J), 85’ Viens (R).
Roma: Minami, Kumagai, Giacinti (59’ Viens) Giugliano (92’ Valdezate), Haavi, Ceasar, Bartoli (Cap), Pilgrim (82’ Feiersinger), Greggi (82’ Troelsgaard), Sonstevold, Linari.
Unused subs: Ciccotti, Tomaselli, Merolla, Testa, Ohrstrom.
Coach: Alessandro Spugna.
Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin, Lenzini (75’ Gama), Calligaris, Salvai (Cap), Boattin, Caruso (59’ Gunnarsdottir), Grosso, Echegini (82’ Cascarino), Thomas (59’ Bonansea), Girelli (75’ Cantore), Beerensteyn.
Unused subs: Aprile, Cafferata, Nystrom, Palis.
Coach: Paolo Beruatto.
Referee: Maccarini
Assistants: Singh - Bracaccini
Bookings: 54’ Caruso (J), 72’ Bonansea (J), 82’ Kumagai (R)
Sendings off: 79’ Bonansea (second yellow card) (J)
