25 April 2021
The Bianconere missed out on the Coppa Italia final despite defeating Roma 3-2 (4-4 on aggregate) at Vinovo in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg, as the away goal rule saw the visitors progress.
Rita Guarino’s girls went forward from the off knowing they had to overturn the 2-1 deficit and created a good chance after just two minutes when Valentia Cernoia put in a beautiful ball in towards Lina Hurtig but goalkeeper, Camelia Ceasar saved the Swede’s effort. However, Roma responded with an even more threatening chance, as Annamaria Seturini forced a good save from Laura Giuliani but the ball was still heading towards goal, only for Lisa Boattin to head off the line at the last second to save a certain goal for the away side!
Juve continued knocking on the door and after Cernoia forced another save from Ceasar, the Bianconere breakthrough finally came. Arianna Caruso put the perfect cross into the box and Sofie Pedersen met the ball with the perfect header to give Juve the lead and level the scores on aggregate at 2-2.
Minutes before half-time Juventus Women went inches away from being ahead in the tie through another Scandinavian header, this time Linda Sembrant rose highest to meet Cernoia’s corner and it took a miraculous save from Ceasar to stop it from crossing the line.
A goal up at the break, Juventus Women began the second half trying to put an end to Roma’s attacking play. The Giallorosse had the ball in the back in the net in the 57th minute through Lazaro, but it didn’t stand as it was ruled out for offside. A good chance fell to the visitors when Sembrant couldn’t connect to a cross, Giuliani rushed off her line and got the slightest touch, as Thomas failed to strike it towards goal, allowing for the Bianconere to recover.
Roma’s persistence paid off as they turned the game around with two goals in the space of five minutes. The first goal came in the 77th minute when a corner was delivered into the box, it fell to the feet of Thomas, who tapped it in from close range. The Lazio-based club grabbed their second goal on a corner too, when Lazaro nodded home Giuliano’s corner.
The Bianconere weren’t giving up, however, and a late resurgence saw them score two inside stoppage time, with Girelli nodding home a corner and Gama tapping in on the last kick of the game. Despite this, Roma progressed on the away goals rule and will face Milan in the final.
