25 March 2023
Juve made it back-to-back wins against Milanese opposition in the opening two matches of the Scudetto phase of Serie A. Arianna Caruso supplied the crosses that led to the first two goals, for Linda Sembrant and Sara Gunnarsdóttir.
To make sure of the three points Barbara Bonansea added a third after Inter had cut the gap to just one goal.
The three points extended the lead over the Nerazzurre in third place to 11 points, and allowed Juve to mometarily close the gap on leaders Roma to five points.
THE MATCH
Inter were intent on avenging the Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Joe Montemurro’s team just before the second phase of the season began. In fact, the extra time defeat in the second leg was the Nerazzurre’s last game, having been the team selected to rest on matchday 1 of the Scuedetto phase.
And Rita Guarino’s team looked lively from kick-off, when Arianna Caruso helped out Linda Sembrant to snuff out the danger posed by Tabitha Chawinga.
After just 15 minutes the same two players combined to find open the scoring at the other end. Paulina Nyström darted to the deadball line and her attempt to cross earned Juve a corner. Arianna Caruso swung in the ball, goalkeeper Francesca Durante was deceived by the flight of the ball and although a defender managed to head the ball off the line, it rebounded off the crossbar and landed in front of Linda Sembrant, who had the simple task of knocking the ball home.
Wingers Barbara Bonansea and Lineth Beerensteyn were determined to add to the Bianconere’s advantage. First Bonansea dribbled her way past four Inter defenders into the heart of the penalty area, but her shot was eventually blocked. Likewise Beerensteyn on the opposite flank when she attempted one of her trademark runs.
In the closing seconds of the opening half, Frederikke Thøgersen found herself with a gilt-edged chance to equalise. However, her shot from six yards out was saved by the toes of the ever-alert Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
Juve continued to look the sharper of the two teams after the interval.
Two chances in the space of a minute on the hour mark should have seen Juve stretch their lead. Instead, Beerensteyn watched her diving header flick the outside of the post, while Nyström drove her shot across the face of goal just wide of the same upright.
However, the second goal did arrive, at the half-way point of the second half. Another inviting corner was delivered by Caruso, this time Sara Gunnarsdóttir made the run to twist her header into the far corner.
Just as time seemed to be running out, with four minutes of normal time to play, Inter gave themselves a lifeline. Chawinga outpaced the Juve defence and although Peyraud-Magnin made a superb save, the striker netted the rebound.
Juve had no intention to allow the hosts back into the contest, however. Cristiana Girelli stole the ball from Stefanie van der Gragt and a sweet backheel set up Bonansea, who beat Durante with a low left foot shot.
INTER 1-3 JUVENTUS WOMEN (HT: 0-1)
SCORERS: 14′ Sembrant, 68’ Gunnarsdóttir, 87′ Chawinga, 89′ Bonansea
INTER: Durante; Fördős (66′ Polli), Van der Gragt, Alborghetti; Thøgersen, Mihashi, Eckhoff (66′ Santi), Karchouni (57′ Simonetti), Merlo (84’ Robustellini); Ajara Njoya (84’ Marinelli), Chawinga. Subs not used: Piazza, Sønstevold, Pandini, Kristjánsdóttir. Coach: Guarino.
JUVENTUS: Peyraud Magnin; Gama, Salvai, Sembrant, Lenzini (88’ Nilden); Caruso, Gunnarsdottir, Grosso (46′ Cernoia); Bonansea, Nystrom (77’ Girelli), Beerensteyn (88’ Cantore). Subs not used: Aprile, Boattin, Simon, Schatzer, Pfattner. Coach: Montemurro.
Referee: Scatena
BOOKINGS: 26′ Sembrant, 49′ Nyström
