18 September 2024
The Juventus Women’s First Team was worthy of the applause it received when it took to the field on Wednesday evening at the Pozzo-La Marmora stadium in Biella. The Bianconere got the better of Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 in the first leg (return match on 26 September in Paris) of Round 2 of the UEFA Women's Champions League's League Path.
The match was decided by goals from Amalie Vangsgaard, Sofia Cantore and Hanna Bennison for coach Massimiliano Canzi's team, with Thiniba Samoura scoring the only goal for the French side.
THE MATCH
The Bianconere started the match off on the right foot. They immediately posed a danger to the French defence, as Vangsgaard served the ball to Valentina Bergamaschi, who was unable to finish the action with a goal. In the seventh minute, however, Juventus found the goal and took the lead. Cantore sprinted forward and passed the ball into the centre of the area for Vangsgaard, whose was clinical in front of goal.
Just four minutes later, PSG levelled with a Samoura strike from range. After that, the pace of the match picked up and it became a real battle.
Sheer brilliance from Sofia Cantore put the Bianconere back in front. Coming in off the left, nutmegged her marker and powered into the box, then cutting back onto her right foot as she reached the box and picked out the far corner with a lovely, curled effort, putting Juventus Women back in front at the end of the first half.
PSG came back out for the second half set on determined to fight back against a Juventus side who had been excellent up to that point. They didn’t back down from the attack, either.
Cantore was once again unplayable out wide. She made space on the right and put in a cross that fell to Bennison, and the Swede coolly swept it into the bottom corner.
The final half-hour of the match was representative of the self-confidence and self-sacrifice that coach Canzi's team displayed all night. They defended without risking much and were always alert to any potential danger.
Now, they take a two-goal lead to Paris for the second leg.
JUVENTUS 3-1 PSG
UEFA Women Champions League | League Path Round 2 - First Leg
Pozzo-La Marmora Stadium - Biella
Goals: 7’ Vangsgaard (J), 11’ Samoura (P), 34’ Cantore (J), 62' Bennison (J)
Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin, Lenzini, Calligaris, Cascarino (84' Kullberg), Krumbiegel (64' Thomas), Caruso (C), Bennison, Bergamaschi, Beccari (79' Schatzer), Cantore (64' Bonansea), Vangsgaard (64' Girelli).
Unused substitutes: Gama, Lehmann, Rosucci, Bragonzi, Pelgander, Capelletti, Proulx.
Coach: Canzi Massimiliano.
PSG: Earps, Samoura (91' Le Guilly), Dudek (C) (77' Gaetino), De Almeida, Echegini (70' Lushimba Bilombi), Geyoro, Katoto, Leuchter (70' Albert), Elimbi Gilbert (91' Traore), Mbock Bathy, Fazer.
Unused substitutes: Kiedrzynek, Fernandes, Imarazene, Diakite, Mokhtar Jamai.
Coach: Abriel Fabrice.
Referee: Fabienne
Assistants: Gottlinger - Bergmann
Bookings: 17’ Echegini (P), 24’ Krumbiegel (J), 57' Calligaris (J), 63' Cascarino (J), 75' Fazer (P), 87' Lushimba Bilombi (P)
Next match:
Serie A Feminine - Matchday 3
Lazio-Juventus
Saturday, 21 September at 15:00
Mirko Fersini Stadium - Formello (Rome)
