16 September 2022
Juve’s main rivals last season, Roma, arrived in Turin intent on extending their 100% record at the start of the campaign. The Bianconere dug into their reserves of experience, tenacity and talent to send their opponents home empty handed, with Valentina Cernoia's goal decisive.
THE MATCH
Suspension and injury had reduced Joe Montemurro’s options in defence, so the coach was only too happy to be able to rely on Cecilia Salvai, partnered in the heart of the defence by a re-invented Martina Rosucci. Those two, along with the safe hands of Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, were the main contributors in holding back Roma’s attack in a first half that saw the visitors in control of possession.
THE VISITORS ON THE FRONT FOOT
Peyraud-Magnin was first called into action as early as the 11th minute when she tipped over a fierce shot from the edge of the area from Andressa. Valentina Giacinit beat the offside trap twice in succession 20 minutes in, but was blocked both times, first by Peyraud-Magnin, who had raced off her line, then by Rosucci, who had sprinted back to put pressure on the Giallorosse striker.
As the first half edged towards its conclusion, Salvai demonstrated that she had lost none of her match sharpness with two timely tackles to deny Roma a sight on goal.
In first-half stoppages Cristian Girelli tried her luck from distance, with her audacious effort just dipping over the bar - a sign that the Bianconere were playing within themselves and that there was still a lot of football to be played in the Turin heat.
THE OPENER
Juventus emerged for the second half re-energised and immediately took the game to the visitors. On 51’ Girelli was found in space inside the area, but her curler rebounded back off the crossbar. Two minutes later, however, Juve did find the opening goal.
Valentina Cernoia picked up possession wide on the left, and swung in a cross, which swerved towards goal and looped beyond the Giallorosse goalkeeper into the far corner. Juve’s 10th goal of the Serie A season was also the first conceded by Roma this campaign.
VISITORS DOWN TO 10
With 25 minutes to play, Juventus found themselves one goal and one player to the good. Manuela Giugliano recieved a yellow card following a tug on the shirt of Lisa Boattin. For the Roma playmaker it was her second booking after she was booked in first half stoppages.
The Bianconere looked to make the most of their numerical advantage but despite keeping good possession, never created a clear chance. And as the clock ticked down towards full time, understandably the players thought about conserving the lead and their energy for the midweek Champions League appointment. Peyraud-Magnin was called into action in the closing minutes, tipping over a long-range effort from Annamaria Serturini before leaping to touch wide a pile-driver from Carina Wenninger.
Experience and fortitude saw out the final seconds as Juve returned to the top of the league, albeit temporarily, but more importantly inflicted a first defeat on scudetto rivals Roma.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
JOE MONTEMURRO
"These are three very important points. I said from the beginning that September was going to be a complicated month, also because we have only been together for a few weeks. We have courage in abundance, which we showed again today in a difficult match, when we put on a great second-half performance. The secret is to read the games, to understand when you have to do more or when you have to sit back. These are the challenges that we want, that we like, the challenges of professionals, which we must face without excuses with the right solution in mind. Now let's think about the Champions League, last year we gained good experience, we will have to manage the game with intelligence. We are happy Salvai is back - she is an important player for us and for women's football. She returned in a difficult match and performed very well."
VALENTINA CERNOIA
"Our goal? It was our intention to score, we believed we could even during the tough moments - then, there was also a bit of luck involved. Roma put us in difficulty last year and have got even stronger but we showed great determination and great heart. Every year we reset everything and start from scratch with the same hunger. Now we can look to the next game with optimism. As for me, I always do what the coach asks of me and I thank him because he has put his trust in me."
JUVENTUS WOMEN 1-0 ROMA (HT: 0-0)
SCORER: 53’ Cernoia (J).
JUVENTUS: Peyraud-Magnin; Nilden, Rosucci, Salvai (59’ Lenzini), Boattin; Caruso (84’ Zamanian), Gunnarsdottir, Cernoia (74’ Grosso); Bonfantini (84’ Duljan), Girelli (74’ Cantore), Beerensteyn.
Subs not used: Aprile, Forcinella, Lundorf, Arcangeli.
Coach: Montemurro.
ROMA: Ceasar; Bartoli, Wenninger, Minami, Di Guglielmo (22’ Landstrom); Andressa (66’ Serturini), Giugliano, Greggi; Glionna (66’ Cinotti), Giacinti (75’ Haug), Haavi (75’ Lazaro Torres).
Subs not used: Lind, Bergersen, Kollmats, Zannini.
Coach: Spugna.
Referee: Tremolada.
BOOKINGS: 40’ Girelli (J), 45’+4 & 65’ Giugliano (R), 59’ Cernoia (J).
SENDING OFF: 65’ Giugliano (R).
