21 May 2023
Juventus Women were on the receiving end of a six-goal roller-coaster of a match in Florence in the Bianconeri's last away fixture of the Serie A campaign.
Despite heading into the break 2-1 to the good following goals just before the interval from Barbara Bonansea and Lineth Beerensteyn, Juve conceded three times in the second half.
THE MATCH
After a quiet start the match burst into life after the cooling break at the midway point of the opening half.
Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, who had thwarted the hosts when she sped off her line to smother the danger on 10 minutes, was helpless to stop a long-range strike from Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir with less than 10 minutes to play before the break.
Going a goal down sparked Joe Montemurro’s team into life.
One minute later, Barbara Bonansea tested Katia Schroffenegger at the keeper’s near post. The equaliser was just around the corner, however. On 42’ Cristiana Girelli and Bonansea linked up sublimely. A back heel from Girelli played Bonansea through on goal and the winger picked her spot beyond Schroffenegger.
It was then Girelli who tried her luck. The number 10 let fly from distance, with the shot zipping just wide of the target.
The Bianconere turned the game on its head just as the interval beckoned. Lineth Beerensteyn unleashed a vicious left-foot drive that Schroffenegger couldn’t keep out after Fiorentina failed to clear a corner.
However, the hosts set off in determined fashion at the restart.
Although Lisa Boattin made a heroic block immediately after kick off to deny Fiorentina their second, the game’s fourth goal duly arrived. Michela Catena broke down on the right but Longo couldn’t apply the finishing touch. In the ensuing scramble, the ball rebounded off Catena into the net.
Just before the hour mark, Fiorentina reclaimed the lead. Again a Jóhannsdóttir shot from the edge of the area got the better of Peyraud-Magnin.
Inside the final 10 minutes, with Juve seeking an equaliser, Fiorentina were awarded a penalty. Margherita Monnecchi latched onto a loose ball inside the area before being fouled by Sofie Pedersen. Veronica Boquete converted from the spot, with Peyraud-Magnin guessing correctly but unable to reach the well-placed shot.
The Bianconere fell to a fourth defeat of the season, but must pick themselves up again in the last game of the league campaign next weekend against Milan before facing Roma in the Coppa Italia final.
COACH MONTEMURRO'S POST-MATCH COMMENTS
"Disappointing, not so much for the result, but for how it came about. This attitude is not part of our way, I am very sorry to show our fans this type of performance, which I don't like and had never seen before. Against Roma we have to put everything into it on the pitch, like every time you wear this shirt."
FIORENTINA 4-2 JUVENTUS WOMEN (HT: 1-2)
SCORERS: 36′ & 57’ Jóhannsdóttir, 42′ Bonansea, 45+3′ Beerensteyn, 47′ Catena, 84′ Boquete (pen)
FIORENTINA: Schroffenegger; Erzen (53′ Cafferata), Tortelli, Agard, Jackmon; Severini, Jóhannsdóttir (69’ Zamanian), Boquete, Catena (80’ Hammarlund); Mijatovic, Longo. Subs not used: Parisi, Kajan, Monnecchi, Baldi, Vitale, Russo. Coach: Panico.
JUVENTUS: Peyraud-Magnin; Nilden, Gama (58′ Lenzini), Sembrant, Boattin (81′ Nyström); Gunnarsdottir (70′ Cernoia), Pedersen, Grosso (58′ Caruso); Bonansea (70′ Cantore), Girelli, Beerensteyn. Subs not used: Aprile, Forcinella, Salvai, Simon. Coach: Montemurro.
Referee: Burlando.
Bookings: 55′ Gama, 90+3’ Zamian
