Bianconere defeat Valerenga in UWCL group stage opener | OneFootball

A rundown of Juventus Women’s First Team’s 1-0 victory over Valerenga in the first group stage game of this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League. The Bianconere snatched all three points in Norway thanks to Sofia Cantore’s first half goal.

THE MATCH REPORT

At Oslo's Intility Arena, the first chance of the match fell to the home team: Karina Saevik found Janni Thomsen in the penalty area, but her effort on goal was blocked by Martina Lenzini. The Norwegians again came close to taking the lead through Olaug Tvedten who failed to find the back of the net midway through the first half. However, Sofia Cantore was on hand at the other end to break the deadlock just before the half-hour mark: Chiara Beccari drove towards the Valerenga penalty area before finding Cantore in the box who slotted her right-footed effort just inside the far post. Some amazing defensive heroics by Barbara Bonansea, the first of which was an exceptional block before making a goal line headed clearance shortly afterwards, maintained the Bianconere’s advantage. Cantore then had the chance to extend Juve’s lead, but saw her powerful effort from the edge of the area fly just over the crossbar.

At the beginning of the second half, the Norwegian side started to apply pressure to Pauline Peyraud-Magnin’s goal, but the Bianconere shot stopper was quick off her line and agile between the sticks to deny Saevik’s dangerous effort. Juve’s first chance of the second period fell to Amalie Vangsgaard who fired over the crossbar from a good position having been teed up by Estelle Cascarino. Vangsgaard came close yet again later in the half after she latched onto Cristiana Girelli’s long throw before forcing the defender into a last-ditch challenge. With just eight minutes left on the clock, Viola Calligaris made a critical goal line block to prevent Sara Horte’s header from finding the back of the net. Valerenga goalkeeper Tove Enblom did well at the other end to deny Vangsgaard. The last chance of the match fell to Emma Stolen Godo who beat Cascarino to the ball, but she was unable to direct her header goalwards. Massimiliano Canzi’s team triumph in Oslo after a closely fought Champion’s League encounter!

VALERENGA 0-1 JUVENTUS WOMEN

Intility Arena, Wednesday 9 October, 2024 at 21:00 (CEST)

UWCL Group Stage: Matchday One

Goals: 29’ Cantore (J)

Home Team: Enblom, Horte, Thorsnes, Sandnes Olsen, Thomsen, Brekken (72’ Vickius), Bjelde, Heidarsdottir, Stolen Godo, Saevik, Tvedten. Unused Substitutes: Kovacs, Lindwall, Sesay, Arnesen, Enger, Erichsen, Grinde-Hansen. Coach: Nils Lexerod.

Away Team: Payraud Magnin, Lenzini, Calligaris, Cascarino, Bergamaschi, Caruso (87’ Kullberg), Bennison (65’ Schatzer), Bonansea (65’ Girelli), Cantore (77’ Rosucci), Vangsgaard, Beccari (65’ Thomas). Unused Substitutes: Gama, Lehmann, Bragonzi, Ferraresi, Capelletti, Gallo, Proulx. Coach: Massimiliano Canzi.

Referee: Sandra Bastos Assistants: Sandrine Goncalves Santos, Catia Tavares Fourth Official: Teresa Oliveira

Bookings: 62’ Horte (V)

Next Match:

Juventus Women-AS Roma Women’s Serie A Sunday, 13 October 2024 at 15:30 (CEST) Allianz Stadium