05 March 2022
Juventus were held by nearest challengers Roma in Serie A Match Day 16’s highly-anticipated showdown, which maintained the Bianconere’s three-point advantage over the Romans at the top of the table. The Bianconere took the lead on 11 minutes through an own goal which was cancelled out 16 minutes into the second half by the visitors.
EARLY ADVANTAGE
Joe Montemurro picked a side with experience from defence to attack, and the Bianconere looked composed from kick-off. However, Roma were full of enthusiasm, as expected from a team on a nine-match winning streak, and created the first chance of the match on eight minutes. A corner swung in from the left was only partially cleared. The ball fell to Paloma Lazaro, whose spectacular overhead kick flashed wide of the post.
Three minutes later, another dangerous cross rewarded Juventus with the game’s first goal. The delivery was supplied by Lisa Boattin, whose determined run took her to the bye-line. The ball was headed back across the face of goal by Cristiana Girelli into a crowded penalty area. Under pressure, Angelica Soffia turned the ball into her own net.
GIALLOROSSE RESPOND
Roma regrouped and pushed their defence higher up the pitch in search of the equaliser. On 25’, Manuela Giugliano struck a free-kick, aiming for the near post, which took a deflection off the wall. From the resulting corner kick, again it was Lazaro that came close from a promising position. The Giallorosse continued to press and called Pauline Peyraud-Magnin into action for the first time. Annamaria Serturini found space at the edge of the area and hit a curling effort that the Juve keeper at full stretch finger-tipped wide for a corner.
After soaking up the pressure, Juventus sprung forward in the 40th minute. Arianna Caruso won the ball in midfield and made progress into the opposition penalty area. With a sharp turn she spun away from three Giallorosse defenders and cut the ball back for Barbara Bonansea. The Juve number 11, however, couldn’t keep her shot down.
That was the last scoring chance of the opening period, although there was time for Valentina Cernoia to follow Lazaro in the referee’s book before the half-time whistle.
LEVEL ON THE HOUR
Roma displayed their second-half intentions immediately. Serturnini dribbled past Boattin and flighted in a tantalising cross. Peyraud-Magnin bravely punched clear. Although the rebound crashed off the crossbar the referee had already blown the whistle for a foul on the goalkeeper.
Just as Juve were keeping Roma at a safe distance, a miss-placed pass by Valentina Cernoia released Emilie Haavi inside the Bianconere area. Her pass found Lazaro, who placed her shot beyond Peyraud-Magnin for the equaliser.
The goal galvanised the Giallorosse and came close to taking the lead on 76’. Benedetta Glionna, who had just come on, forced another important save from Peyraud-Magnin with a cross-cum-shot.
LATE SURGE
Juventus finished strongly, but failed to find the crucial breakthrough. Agnese Bonfantini had a glancing header saved, before Boattin brought the best out of Roma goalkeeper Camelia Ceasar with a low angled drive from a free-kick. From the resulting corner, Caruso had Ceaser scrambling as the Juventus midfielder went straight for goal from the corner flag.
In stoppage time, Girelli attempted a back-heel volley, which whistled past the near post, but there would be no late winner.
JUVENTUS 1-1 ROMA (HT: 1-0)
SCORERS: 11’ Soffia (OG), 61’ Lazaro (R) ,
JUVENTUS: Peyraud-Magnin; Lenzini (77’ Lundorf), Gama, Sembrant, Boattin; Caruso, Pedersen, Rosucci (74’ Bonfantini); Bonansea, Girelli, Cernoia.
Subs not used: Aprile, Panzeri, Hyyrynen, Nilden, Grosso, Zamanian, Staskova.
Coach: Montemurro.
ROMA: Ceasar; Soffia, Bartoli, Linari, Di Guglielmo; Andressa (87’ Mijatovic), Giugliano, Greggi; Serturini (72’ Glionna), Lazaro (87’ Haug), Haavi.
Subs not used: Kollmats, Lind, Borini, Pirone, Pettenuzzo, Bernauer.
Coach: Spugna.
Referee: Cascone.
Assistants: Severino, Trischitta.
Fourth Official: Carsenzuola.
BOOKINGS: 31’ Lazaro (R), 41’Cernoia (J) , 62’ Bonansea (J)
