22 November 2020
Juventus Women got off to a winning start in this season’s Coppa Italia debut, winning 4-1 away to Pink Bari to pick up three points in Group E, which also features Campanian side, Pomigliano.
The Bianconere attacked from straight from kick-off and got an early goal for their rewards. Maria Alves raced down the Juve right to square the ball across to Barbara Bonansea to tap home after just four minutes. Maria Alves was proving to be an early thorn down Pink Bari’s left-hand side and the Brazilian got herself on the scoresheet after just another four minutes of play. A great through-ball from Annahita Zamanian released Maria Alves who made no mistake to finish past Rebecca Di Fronzo in the Pink Bari goal.
Assister to goalscorer was definitely the theme and Zamanian continued the trend, as she unleashed a rocket from distance that flew underside of the crossbar and into the net to give Juve a 3-0 lead after just 15 minutes! Rita Guarino’s girls continued to press as Pink Bari struggled to hold them off, however despite their early first half dominance, the hosts were able to keep the Bianconere at bay until the end of the first 45’.
The second half began just as the first with an early goal, but this time it was Pink Bari who got themselves on the scoresheet. Similar to Juve’s opener, Emelie Helmvall tapped past Doris Bacic in the Juve goal from close range after a low-ball in from the right. The hosts rallied and Bacic was forced into a great save to turn the ball just over the crossbar.
Any fears of a Bari fightback were soon allayed, as Bonansea got herself into a good position, dribbling the last defender, before finishing low into the corner, to grab her second and her side’s fourth, just past the hour. That would be all she wrote, as Juve secured three precious points to get themselves up and running in the Coppa Italia!
