30 January 2019
Juventus Women are close to reaching their goal of the Coppa Italia semi-finals, after a 4-0 win away in Tavagnacco sees the Bianconere take a strong advantage back to Turin for the second leg on 20 February.
A first-half brace from Eniola Aluko, followed by Asia Bragonzi first ever goal for Juventus Women and a Cristiana Girelli effort in the second did the damage for Rita Guarino's goals.
It took just three minutes for Juve to get the ball rolling through Aluko, and it didn't take long for the England international to double the Bianconere's lead after she got on the end of Benedetta Glionna's great ball. Juventus Women were in control of the game and went close to making it three in the first half with Arianna Caruso on 26 minutes and Aleksandra Sikora towards the end. Before the start of the second period, Coach Guarino opted to withdraw Aluko for Asia Bragonzi and it proved to be a telling sub, as the young attacker scored her first-ever goal for Juventus Women. There was no letting up, as just two minutes later it was four, with a rocket from Cristiana Girelli sealing the 4-0 win.
It's a result that gives the Bianconere a strong platform in view of the return leg, as explained by captain, Sara Gama at the end of the match: "We did what we had to do - said the - it was important to get in front immediately, on a difficult pitch and in a period where we're playing a lot of games, and we mustn't make it more complicated for ourselves."
"I'm happy with how our attitude was towards the game - explained coach Rita Guarino - we did it with the utmost attention and the utmost respect. On Sunday, we will have a difficult match against Roma, so it was important to manage our resources well."
