TURIN. An undertaking by Juventus Women, who in the first leg of the women’s Champions League quarter-finals beat Olympique Lyon 2-1 in comeback in front of over 9000 spectators who filled the stands of the Allianz Stadium. The return match is scheduled for Thursday 31 March in France: a place in the semifinals is up for grabs.
The French, seven times European champions, pass on the first attempt, on 6 ‘, with a header from Macario on a cross from Bacha, but the one who first touched the advantage – after less than two minutes – was the Old Lady, with an oversized shot by Hurtig after an erroneous postponement by the goalkeeper. The bianconere accuse the blow and risk in a couple of situations – above all the rescue on the line of Girelli on Malard’s attempt (even if the referee whistled offside) and the low shot of Macario -, but above all they struggle to create dangers in the opponent’s penalty area.
In the second half, the visiting team always plays the game, but the inertia of the match changes on 17 ‘, when Carpenter misses a check and knocks out Girelli thrown towards the goal: the resulting expulsion changes the history of the match, because the Juve – so far fearful – took courage and forced Lyon on the defensive. Cernoia hits the crossbar with a splendid conclusion, prelude to the goal that arrives in the 21st minute and bears the signature of Girelli, who bags with an unguarded goal after a lack of control by the goalkeeper Bouhaddi, who on the occasion suffers a push from Caruso that the referee Foster does not repent. Montemurro’s team, also due to the numerical inferiority of the French, is not satisfied with 1-1 and continues to press. Caruso finds the right corridor for Bonfantini, who from the heart of the area finds the winning diagonal of 2-1 and makes the Juventus fans explode with joy. In a week, another company will be needed in Lyon, but the Juventus Women have what it takes to dream.
«We are happy, this is the first time we have won with Lyon, who have won five Champions League championships in a row before Barcelona, we are leaving ourselves a bit of celebration this evening. Today we took home a victory, we can dream, we took one step ». This was stated by Juventus Women captain Sara Gama at a press conference after the success achieved by the bianconere against Olympique Lyon. «It is clear that now we look at the return from a certain perspective – she added – What amazed me about Lyon? Nothing surprised me, they are probably more amazed. They will be even more aggressive in the return, we play the passage of the turn. We must have the same desire and compactness ».
«The most important thing is that we have shown once again, and it is not the first, that we can play with the top teams. We are learning, we are still in the growth phase ». Juventus Women coach Joe Montemurro said so. «Playing the final in Turin? Obviously it would be a dream, an incredible thing, but we watch from game to game – he added – We saw good football tonight, the Champions League brings us to these levels ».