FIRST WIN FOR THE ROSSONERE: 2-1 AGAINST LAZIO

Finally, the first and very well-deserved win of the season. Coach Bakker's Rossonere came from behind to beat Lazio thanks to two first goals and the decisive Laura Giuliani. The goals came from Julie Piga and Nikola Karczewska, both of them bagging for the very first time in the Women's Serie A, while our goalkeeper and captain saved a penalty from Piemonte at the start of the second half at 1-1. After the draw in the derby, this home win makes it two consecutive positive results for our girls after defeats to Como and Fiorentina in the opening two fixtures. There are many positive signs of growth in the side, who reacted well after falling behind.

We created many chances which contributed to the final result. Monica Renzotti made her debut in the starting line-up in Serie A and was on top form down the right, especially in the first half. Nadine Sorelli's performance was encouraging once again, having started at the centre of defence for the third game running. Other big performances came from Karczewska and Cernoia, both off the bench and key for the second goal: Valentina produced a brilliant assist and Nikola scored the winner. Now, heads and hearts turn to Napoli away on Sunday at 14:30 CEST.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v LAZIO

MATCH REPORT
The Rossonere made an excellent start, with Dompig bursting forward and letting fly with a powerful right-footed strike that Cetinja needed two attempts to save. We looked particularly threatening down the right flank as Renzotti and Koivisto created a few interesting situations around the 15-minute mark. In the 22nd minute, Piga couldn’t quite find enough space to get a shot away in the area, with Rubio seeing her effort deflected behind for a corner moments later. With 25 minutes on the clock, an attempt from the Spaniard didn’t cause any problems for Cetinja. Another run from Dompig led to another big AC Milan chance after 28 minutes, with Mascarello firing inches off target. Somewhat against the run of play, Lazio took a 42nd-minute lead through Visentin, whose shot struck the bar and ended in the net. However, the Rossonere responded immediately: on the stroke of half-time, Piga headed home Mascarello’s precise free-kick at the back post to make it 1-1.

The second half started with both teams turning over possession, and, from such a situation, Piga committed a foul on Visentin to concede a penalty. Piemonte, up against her former side, stepped up for Lazio, but Giuliani produced a magnificent save to keep out the spot-kick. At the other end, Nadim was unable to convert from close range and an attempt by Soffia almost caught out Cetinja. An enormous opportunity fell the way of Dompig on the 72-minute mark, but D'Auria made a last-ditch intervention to thwart her. With the match a fairly even affair, Coach Bakker turned to her bench, sending on Karczewska, Cernoia and Laurent. And the substitutions paid off: in the 81st minute, a Karczewska header from a Cernoia cross was saved, but the Pole then converted on the follow-up to give us the lead. Lazio pushed forward in the closing stages, but the Rossonere defence held firm, allowing our girls to pick up their first win of the campaign!

MATCH DETAILS

AC MILAN 2-1 LAZIO 

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Giuliani; Koivisto, Sorelli, Piga (78' Mesjasz), Soffia; Mascarello (64' Cernoia), Rubio, Ijeh; Renzotti (64' Laurent), Nadim (64' Karczewska), Dompig (93' Marinelli). Subs: Fedele, Tornaghi; Appiah, Arrigoni, Stokić, Swaby. Coach: Bakker.

LAZIO (3-5-2): Cetinja; D'Auria, Connolly, Pittaccio; Oliviero, Simonetti (76' Yang), Eriksen, Goldoni (84' Moraca), Zanoli (88' Belloumou); Visentin (84' Kajan), Piemonte. Subs: Karresmaa; Castiello, Colombo, Pizzi. Coach: Grassadonia.

Referee: Zanotti from Rimini.
Goals: 42' Visentin (L), 45' Piga (M), 81' Karczewska (M)
Booked: 51' Piga (M), 89' Dompig (M).

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