07 September 2024
Juventus Women’s First Team’s challenging friendly test against French champions Olympique Lyonnais, that took place this afternoon at the Stade Pierre Rajon in Bourgoin-Jallieu, ended in a 4-2 victory for the French side over the Bianconere.
THE MATCH REPORT
This was a high-quality friendly match facing not only the holders of the French title but also finalists of last season's Women's Champions League. Lyon started strongly and, after an initial phase of patient possession, they took the lead through Eugenie Le Sommer who opened the scoring via a shot from the edge of the area.
Tabitha Chawinga came close to doubling their advantage shortly afterwards with a dangerous low shot that went just wide. Just two minutes later, however, Chawinga managed to find the back of the net with a quick free kick that made it 2-0. Halfway through the first half Pauline Peyraud-Magnin did well to deny Dzenifer Maroszan's powerful effort with a great save; but on the half-hour mark Lyon found the third goal through Melchie Dumornay and in the 35th minute the fourth via Danielle Van de Donk.
The Bianconere clawed a goal back just before half time as Lindsey Thomas’ cross from the right set up Paulina Krumbiegel who volleyed past Christiane Endler in the Lyon goal.
The second half began with some changes made by coach Massimiliano Canzi and it was the two substitutes who combined to score the second goal: Chiara Beccari delivered a perfect ball into the penalty area for Cristiana Girelli, who poked the ball home on the stretch ahead of the opposition defender.
The Bianconere pushed on and had another chance to cause problems for Lyon but Arianna Caruso’s header from just outside the six-yard-box missed by a whisker. With 15 minutes remaining of the match came the moment that all the Juventus fans had been waiting for: coach Canzi decided to introduce Martina Rosucci, who rediscovered the joy of taking to the pitch after a long absence due to unfortunate injury issues.
The last chance of the game fell to Asia Bragonzi who went very close to making it 3-4 but instead her shot rattled the crossbar and Thomas was unable to convert the rebound.
Coach Massimiliano Canzi's thoughts on the game
“The result, which is the only thing that counts in this sport, is negative and so now we must go home and lick our wounds: if it is true that every time you lose, you learn, then in a friendly match like this one we were taught a lot. We lost many duels, but we knew it could happen against one of the strongest teams in the world: the good thing is that a group without personality loses this match heavily, instead we had the right reaction. We didn't give up until the end: it's the character of the team that interests me. At the same time, however, despite the quality of the opponent, we could have scored more and we must learn from this. Among the positive aspects is the return to the field of Martina Rosucci: I am very happy to be the coach who witnessed such a moment from the bench. She is still far from her best condition, but she is on an upward trajectory and will be more and more important.”
Martina Rosucci's post-match comments
“When I heard my name and the phrase: ‘You'll be on the pitch in 10 minutes’, I felt an emotion I hadn't felt for a long time. I'm so happy to be playing again, even if only in a friendly match, against such a high-quality opponent: I finally felt able to help my teammates, now I'm looking forward with great enthusiasm to my return to the field in an official match to bring an end to this long recovery and mark the beginning of a new adventure.”
OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS 4-2 JUVENTUS WOMEN
Friendly Match
Stade Pierre Rajon, Bourgoin-Jallieu, France
Goals: 11’ Le Sommer (L), 15’ Sangare (L), 30’ Dumornay (L), 35’ Van De Donk (L), 37’ Krumbiegel (J), 61’ Girelli (J)
Olympique Lyonnais: Endler Mutinelli (Cap)(57’ Benkarth), Dumornay (46’ Diani), Dabritz (78’ Belhout Achi), Le Sommer (46’ Becho), Marozsan (78’ Samadi), Carpenter (78’ Bekhaled), Egurrola Wienke (57’ Horan), Sangare (78’ Charpentier), Van De Donk (78’ Coutel), Chawinga (72’ Svava)
Coach: Montemurro Joseph Adrian
Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin (57’ Proulx), Calligaris (57’ Kullberg), Lenzini (Cap)(57’ Gama), Cascarino (78’ Bragonzi), Thomas, Bennison (72’ Pelgander), Schatzer (72’ Rosucci), Krumbiegel (46’ Bergamaschi), Cantore (46’ Caruso), Vangsgaard (57’ Girelli), Lehmann (46’ Beccari)
Unused Substitutes: Capelletti
Coach: Massimiliano Canzi
Bookings: 50’ Marozsan (L), 81’ Becho (L)
Next Match: Juventus – Como, Serie A Women, Matchday 2, 1st Phase, Saturday 14th September at 15:00 (CEST), Stadio Pozzo-La Marmora Biella
