The capital derby between Lazio and Roma finishes with a spectacular 2-2 draw, valid for the first day of the women’s Serie A championship. At the Fersini, the champions of Italy quickly unlock the match with the usual Giacinti. Spugna’s girls waste opportunities and hit the woodwork twice. The biancocelesti stay in the game and, with grit and pace, put pressure on the giallorosse, first finding the equalizer with Le Bihan and then taking the lead with Castiello at the beginning of the second half. Lazio, the newly promoted team, is aggressive and fights in midfield, stifling Roma, who only manage to save themselves in stoppage time with a long-range effort from Linari that prevents defeat. This is the first draw in the women’s derby between Roma and Lazio, after two victories for the giallorosse.
Lazio-Roma, the match report
In the 3rd minute, Roma is dangerous with Glionna who tries a chip shot on Cetinja, but the keeper is not surprised. In the 10th minute, Lazio poses a threat with a crossbar hit by Goldoni from a corner kick. In the 12th minute, Roma unlocks the match: from a corner by Hanshaw, Giacinti rushes in at the near post and heads the ball into the net for the giallorossi’s advantage. In the 14th minute, Giugliano’s shot is deflected into a corner by Cetinja. In the 30th minute, Giacinti performs an acrobatic backheel for Giugliano, who shoots and strikes the top of the crossbar. In the 40th minute, Haavi’s shot from close range strikes the post. In the 44th minute, Lazio equalizes with Le Bihan, who takes advantage of a mistake by Hanshaw and shoots, finding a deflection from Linari that beats Ceasar. In the 54th minute, Goldoni’s weak shot is saved by Ceasar. In the 59th minute, Piemonte starts a counterattack which Castiello finishes by beating Ceasar and gives Lazio the lead. In stoppage time, a powerful long-range shot from Linari hits the crossbar and brings Roma back to parity.
Match Stats
Lazio (5-3-2): Cetinja; Oliviero, Mancuso, Connolly, D’Auria, Belloumou (from the 81st minute Pittaccio); Castiello (from the 67th minute Colombo), Eriksen (from the 76th minute Simonetti), Goldoni; Le Bihan, Piemonte (from the 81st minute Moraca). Coach: Grassadonia
Roma Femminile (4-3-3): Ceasar; Hanshaw (from the 57th minute Thogersen), Minami, Linari, Di Guglielmo; Kumagai (from the 72nd minute Troelsgaard), Greggi, Giugliano; Glionna (from the 57th minute Dragoni), Giacinti (from the 81st minute Corelli), Haavi. Coach: Spugna
Goalscorers: 44’ Le Bihan (L), 57’ Castiello (L); 12’ Giacinti (R), 93’ Linari (R)
Yellow cards: Oliviero (L), Eriksen (L), Pittaccio (L), Cetinja (L), Minami (R)
Referee: Milone
Top and Flop of the Derby
Piemonte 7: Does not score but enables scoring. Monster performance from the former player, a top acquisition for Lazio. Exits to applause from the Fersini after a tough clash with Greggi.
Giacinti 7: Scores the first goal of the giallorossi season, misleading the opponents. Too isolated up front and not well served by her teammates.
Linari 6.5: Ups and downs. Rough duel with Piemonte, a gem with the equalizer at the end.
Hanshaw 5: Good assist for Giacinti, but poor in defense and during Lazio’s first goal.
Post-Derby
In the post-match, in response to a question from RomaToday, Alessandro Spugna spoke about the match and the future of Giulia Dragoni: “Excellent entry, she is a technically very strong player. She played some nice balls, a midfielder who does well in both phases, a modern player. I think that as an interior she can find her best position but she can also play in the trequartista role. She can play in all positions.”
Mr. Grassadonia, Lazio’s coach, in the post-match, specifically mentioned to our microphones the condition of Piemonte, who left due to physical issues: “She is fine; she left due to cramps. She has been working with Everton, she arrived recently and needs to find her best condition. We are talking about an important player who arrived at the end of a long negotiation. We did well to wait for her and convince her, to pamper her, and the club did well to bring her in.”
Finally, Castiello, the captain of Lazio and scorer of the temporary 2-1 goal, spoke about the audience present at the Fersini: “The audience always pushes us. I thank them very much. They were the extra man; they were never quiet even when we were behind. I can only say thank you and keep supporting us like this.”