05 January 2023
Following the men's victory over Cremonese, Juventus Women continued the positive start to the new year with a 3-1 triumph at Cittadella in their opening Coppa Italia fixture of the season.
Annahita Zamanian and Agnese Bonfantini struck in the first half before Cristiana Girelli added a third after the break to secure three points in the first of the Bianconere's two group games in the cup. The second in the three-team group will be away to Brescia on Sunday (14:30 CET).
Joe Montemurro's side – who wore black armbands in memory of Ernesto Castano, who passed away today – had two debutantes in their ranks: goalkeeper Camilla Forcinella and 18-year-old academy midfielder Jasmine Mounecif.
ZAMANIAN & BONFANTINI: 1-2 AT THE BREAK
The girls started on the front foot with Zamanian forcing Cittadella keeper Ilaria Toniolo into her first save just two minutes in. The former PSG forward went close again four minutes later and it was to become a recurring theme throughout the half.
The hosts very nearly took the lead on 13 minutes when their star player Sofia Kongouli rattled the crossbar from the edge of the box.
The Bianconere quickly took control of proceedings once again but didn't really threaten until the half-hour mark, when Martina Rosucci headed wide.
Two minutes later the deadlock was broken when the thorn in Cittadella's side, Zamanian, finished past the onrushing Toniolo following a fine through ball from Valentina Cernoia.
Juve doubled their lead in the 40th minute, with Zamanian the provider this time and Bonfantini the scorer. Annahita did brilliantly to keep the ball in play and shrug off the attentions of an opponent before crossing for her team-mate to head home.
The hosts didn't let their heads drop and reduced the deficit through Kongouli on the stroke of half time to make it 1-2 at the interval.
GIRELLI SEALS VICTORY
The second period turned out to be an even affair with much less to write home about.
The Bianconere did fashion a couple of opportunities to add a third – through Sofia Cantore and Lineth Beerensteyn – while Cittadella for their part might have equalised through Kongouli.
With the clock ticking down, the hosts' hopes were finally dashed when Girelli – fresh off the bench – converted a penalty to make it 3-1 and seal a first win of 2023 for Juventus.
They will now look to finish the job and reach the knockout stage of the cup when they visit Brescia on Sunday.
CITTADELLA 1-3 JUVENTUS WOMEN (HT: 1-2)
Scorers: 31’ Zamanian (J), 41’ Bonfantini (J), 44' Kongouli (C), 83' Girelli (J).
Cittadella: Toniolo, La Rocca (Pavana 40’st), Peruzzo, Masu, Ferin, Pizzolato (Saggion 40’ st), Asta, Nichele (Dhalberg 45’ st), Ambrosi, Kongouli (Zannini 26’ st), Benedetti (Nurzia 45’ st). Subs not used: Nucera, Maddaluno, Orsini, Martinuzzi. Coach: Salvatore Colantuono.
Juventus: Forcinella, Lundorf (41’ st Pfattner), Sembrant, Salvai (Cap), Boattin, Rosucci, Cernoia, Zamanian (Mounecif 41’ st), Bonfantini (Caruso 29’ st), Cantore (Girelli 29’ st), Beerensteyn (Duljan 21’ st). Subs not used: Aprile, Pedersen, Bertucci, Schatzer. Coach: Joseph Montemurro.
Referee: Caldera.
Bookings: 25' Cantore (J).
