29 January 2024
Juventus Women were left with a bittersweet taste in their mouths on Monday evening as they twice fought from behind to draw 2-2 with Fiorentina in Biella, missing the chance to go three points behind Serie A leaders Roma ahead of next week's trip to the capital.
Despite being on top for much of the game and having plenty of chanes, the Bianconere were limited to just two goals which came courtesy of an excellent Julia Grosso and, once again, second-half substitute Joe Echegini.
Coming up against Katja Schroffenegger in fine form, Juventus found themselves frustrated on countless occasions in front of goal, and had to settle for a point for all their chances.
The game
Twelve action-packed minutes
Juventus started on the front foot, and Barbara Bonansea forced the first save from Schroffenegger within four minutes. The Fiorentina goalkeeper was again alert two minutes later to deny Julia Grosso.
The Bianconere kept knocking on the door though, with Lineth Beerensteyn taking her turn to try to find a way to beat the Italian goalkeeper, but ultimately unable to manage. And it was looking like Juventus would score before much longer was to pass.
It wasn’t to be though and, instead, Fiorentina surprisingly got themselves in front. With their first chance of the game, Madelen Janogy slotted past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin to open the scoring just short of the 20th minute.
But the Bianconere didn’t let their heads drop and just six minutes later they were level again as Grosso, one of the best players on the pitch from the first minute, arrived in the box to sweep home after some brilliantly tireless play from SOFIA CANTORE on the right.
Just a matter of moments later, though, Fiorentina went back in front and again through Janogy. This time getting in on the right at the end of a counterattack, she fired in the Viola’s second.
Joe Montemurro’s side needed to react again, and they did. They pushed for a leveller before the break, but it wasn’t to come.
Echegini off the bench to score again!
The second half saw Juventus come out with great determination again, immediately looking to level things up once more. The first chance came early as Arianna Caruso forced Schroffenegger into action.
Juve’s pressure was relentless and the second half was almost entirely played in the Fiorentina half. But Caruso, Beerensteyn and even Estelle Cascarino just couldn’t find a way to beat Schroffenegger.
Three attacking changes saw Maelle Garbino, Cristiana Girelli and Joe Echegini introduced, and it was through the latter that Juventus’ second goal finally came. Joe was once again the hero from the bench, managing to excellently steer home a strike while off balance and on the stretch in the box.
The final minutes saw Juventus throwing everything they had forward in an attempt to win the game late on, but it just wasn’t to be as Schroffenegger again pulled off heroics to deny Girelli and then Beerensteyn.
And so the final whistle sounded with the points being shared in Biella.
Joe Montemurro's comments
“We know these games are complicated. Fiorentina scored two goals on the counterattack today and even though we created a lot, we weren’t precise enough in front of goal. That’s football, but I repeat we created enough to win the game, but we didn’t do it. This league is difficult and the level is rising.
“I’m very happy that Ecegini scored again and, above all, I’m happy for Italian football that players of her level are coming to play here, because it means that the future of the whole movement of Italian women’s football will benefit.
“Back to the game, we take a point from it, we’ll recharge our batteries tomorrow [Tuesday] and then from Wednesday we’ll think about Roma.”
Barbara Bonansea’s post-match words
“We’re sorry we couldn’t take all three points because we played well and created a lot, but we gave away two goals. Now we’ll get our energy back and then focus on the next game against Roma, preparing for it as best we can. I’m sure we’ll come out with the right hunger to fight for every ball, the hunger that we lacked a bit today in those final few metres, where we should have made more of the chances we created.”
Juventus Women 2-2 Fiorentina
Goals: 19’ Janogy (F), 26’ Grosso (J), 31’ Janogy (F), 74' Echegini (J)
Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin, Lenzini, Calligaris, Cascarino, Boattin, Caruso, Grosso, Gunnarsdottir (70' Girelli), Cantore (70' Echegini), Beerensteyn, Bonansea (C) (70' Garbino).
Unused subs: Aprile, Gama, Cafferata, Thomas, Bellucci, Salvai.
Coach: Joseph Montemurro.
Fiorentina: Schroffenegger, Tortelli (C), Hammarlund (70' Longo), Catena (89' Cinotti), Erzen, Janogy (70' Mijatovic), Johannsdottir (80' Georgieva), Severini, Agard (89' Toniolo), Faerge, Boquete Giadans.
Unused subs: Spinelli, Lundin, Baldi, Russo.
Coach: Sebastian De La Fuente.
Referee: Drigo
Assistants: Tomasi - Storgato
Bookings: 78' Caruso (J), 80' Schroffenegger (F)
