21 November 2021
Juventus Women proved an opponent too strong for Serie B side Roma Calcio Femminile, cruising to a comfortable 8-1 victory in their opening Coppa Italia Group Stage encounter played in Rome on Sunday afternoon.
In the first-ever match between the two clubs, Juventus stamped their dominance and authority from the start, putting pressure on the Roma defense who were pegged back from the very first minute.
It took just 16 minutes for the first goal of the game to be scored, Arianna Caruso accepting an Andrea Staskova pass to slot home and give the Bianconere the early lead. Two minutes later, it was 2-0, Lina Hurtig controlling Agnese Bonfantini’s pass before rippling the back of the net.
Juventus, coming off the back of a momentous UEFA Women’s Champions League victory over European powerhouse Wolfsburg mid-week, made it 3-0 on 21 minutes, Bonfantini turning from provider to scorer as her well-taken strike crashed in off the post.
The opposition goalkeeper had barely picked out the ball from the back of the net when she was required to do so once more, Caruso nodding home from a free-kick for her second of the afternoon.
There was still time for another before half-time, Staskova refusing to miss out on the goals as she pounced on a loose ball to make it 5-0 just before the break.
Joe Montemurro rang in the changes during the interval, bringing Alice Giai, Elisa Pfattner and Chiara Beccari into the fray, resting some of his stars while giving some of the fringe players a chance to impress.
A minute after the re-start, Staskova was on hand to fire home at the second attempt after the goalkeeper had parried her initial strike as the visitors’ merciless attack on goal continued. Not satisfied with a brace, Staskova would soon after secure her hat-trick, blasting the ball into the net to make it 7-0 just under the 50-minute mark.
A rare Roma attack bore fruit on 56 minutes to give some joy to the home fans, Badawiya breaking on the counter before a well-placed left-footed strike found the target to make it 7-1.
Cristiana Girelli and Martina Rosucci were then introduced to the game, adding further impetus to the Juventus attack as they continued to press forward and add to the total.
The Bianconere would add an eighth with 20 minutes to go, Hurtig earning her brace as she was slipped in through the middle, keeping her composure to calmly place the ball into the back of the net.
The final 20 minutes would not provide any more goals for either side despite the Bianconere’s relentless efforts, the visitors nonetheless leaving Rome with a comprehensive 8-1 victory – a well-earned three points to start their Italian Cup Group Stage campaign in style.
Roma Calcio Femminile 1-8 Juventus Women (HT: 0-5)
SCORERS: Caruso 16’, 23’, Hurtig 18’, 70’, Bonfantini 21’, Staskova 42’, 46’, 48’; Badawiya 56’
Juventus Women
Line-up: Aprile, Lundorf, Lenzini (Pfattner 46’), Salvai (Rosucci 61’), Boattin (Giai 46’), Caruso (Beccari 46’), Zamanian, Nilden, Bonfantini, Staskova (Girelli 60’), Hurtig.
Substitutes not used: Soggiu, Bonansea.
Roma Calcio Femminile
Line-up: Di Cicco, Orlando, Di Fazio, Silvi, Salm, Novelli, Peri, Filippi, Polverino, Manno, Badawiya.
