Bianconere claim first leg lead over Fiorentina | OneFootball

Juventus Women First Team leave Viola Park as victors after winning the first leg of the Women’s Coppa Italia semi-final against Fiorentina. Goals from Mathilde Harviken, Barbara Bonansea and Amalie Vangsgaard saw Massimiliano Canzi’s side run out as 3-2 winners in the first of a two-legged tie from which the winner will progress to the Coppa Italia final.

THE MATCH REPORT

Juve started brightly in Florence with the Bianconere taking the lead after just five minutes courtesy of a combination between two of the latest additions to the squad: a corner kick taken by Abi Brighton was met by a header from Harviken to open the scoring in first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final. A few seconds later Cristiana Girelli almost doubled Juve’s advantage but was unable to get on the end of Sofia Cantore's cross into the penalty area. In the tenth minute the hosts equalised through Agnese Bonfantini and three minutes later they went 2-1 up thanks to a long-range strike from Emma Faerge. The Bianconere’s response was driven by Hanna Bennison, whose shot, having taken a deflection, flashed just wide. Juve again claim close midway through the first half when the ball fell to Cantore in the area, but the striker was unable to get a clean shot on goal.

Canzi's team had the biggest chances of the first half and in the 36th minute they drew level with Fiorentina, again taking advantage of a corner: this time the cross by Lisa Boattin was flicked on by Cantore before being turned home by Bonansea to make it 2-2. The last chance of an action packed opening 45 minutes fell to Girelli who directed Boattin’s cross goalwards, before seeing her effort strike the crossbar.

The second half was played at a lower tempo than the hectic first period, but there was no shortage of goal-scoring opportunities for the two teams. The first chance of the second half came through Bonansea with a left-footed shot that was saved by the Viola goalkeeper. A few seconds later at the other end, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin was not to be outdone and did well to turn Bonafintini’s threatening effort from the edge of the area behind for a corner. On the hour mark it was Paulina Krumbiegel's turn to try and find Juve’s third goal of the afternoon with a snapshot that tested Francesca Durante, the Fiorentina keeper was then called into action by Brighton’s right-footed effort with a quarter of an hour left on the clock. On the 76th minute Juventus Women took advantage of a mistake by the Fiorentina goalkeeper to go ahead: Amalie Vangsgaard pressed Durante, whose clearance was charged down by the Bianconere forward and the ball deflected into the back of the net to make it 3-2 to Juve. In the 80th minute, Peyraud-Magnin made a magnificent save to tip Kaja Erzen's shot from distance over the crossbar to maintain Juve’s lead and thus secure Juventus Women's away win in the first leg of the Women’s Coppa Italia semi-finals.

Gallery | Women's Coppa Italia | Fiorentina-Juventus Women

MASSIMILIANO CANZI

“It was a match played at a very high tempo, with good performances from both teams. We take home the determination and the result we got in a difficult match even though we are only halfway through the tie. It was a difficult match that went wrong at one stage but we did well to maintain our composure. In the first half we had many chances that we didn't take advantage of effectively, we kept the ball well and we can be satisfied ahead of the return leg. Fiorentina know how to play well, and we are well aware that qualification for the final is still to be won.”

BARBARA BONANSEA

“It was a stop-start game. We took an early lead but then we lost our control a bit, we were not as aggressive as we usually are. Afterwards we started to play better, we managed to score goals and now we are ahead by one goal going into the second leg. After conceding two goals in the space of a few minutes we regrouped and in the second half we had many chances. To come back in a game like that shows our character and the unity of the group. We are only ahead by one goal, the qualification is still not secured and there are another 90 minutes to still to play. We will give everything we have to reach the final.”

FIORENTINA 2-3 JUVENTUS

Stadio Curva Fiesole – Viola Park, Sunday 16 February, 2025 at 15:00 (CET)

Goals: 5’ Harviken (J), 10’ Bonfantini (F), 13’ Faerge (F), 35’ Bonansea (J), 75’ Vangsgaard (J)

Fiorentina: Durante, Erzen (90’ Toniolo), Basslisager Pedersen, Filangeri, Faerge, Bonfantini (90’ Pastrenge), Curmark (80’ Della Peruta), Severini, Catena, Boquete (80’ Bredgaard), Longo (68’ Snerle). Unused Substitutes: Fiskerstrand, Gerogieva, Bettineschi. Coach: Sebastian de la Fuente.

Juventus: Peyraud-Magnin, Lenzini, Kullberg, Harviken, Krumbiegel (69’ Thomas), Brighton, Bennison (84’ Bergamaschi), Boattin (69’ Rosucci), Cantore (61’ Vangsgaard), Girelli (84’ Beccari), Bonansea. Unused Substitutes: Stolen Godo, Calligaris, Capelletti, Proulx. Coach: Massimiliano Canzi.

Referee: Silvia Gasperotti. Assistants: Davide Rignanese, Thomas Storgato Fourth Official: Maicol Guiotto

Bookings: 86’ Erzen (F)

Next Match:

Juventus-Roma Serie A – Championship Round – Matchday 1 Sunday, 2 March, 2025 at 15:30 (CET) Pozzo La Marmora (Biella)