Bianconere edge past Milan

After falling behind early on, Rita Guarino's ladies overturned the result with goals from Bonansea and Caruso to complete a second Juventus comeback in as many days.

It was an exciting affair between the two side, as two of this season’s strongest womens teams battled it out for first-leg advantage.

The Rossonere took advantage after just two minutes of play through Lisa Alborghetti, who nodded home the opening goal off a corner. Replays later showed that the ball had in fact gone off Pedersen for* an own goal.* Eniola Aluko tried to respond almost immediately afterwards when her effort, which took a deflection off the Rossonere backline, struck the crossbar in the ninth minute.

The Bianconere worked hard at trying to find their way in the game with an all-out attack approach, but by the half an hour point of the match, they still hadn’t found the equaliser. The ladies did come close moments later, through a cross from Girelli on the right that sailed towards Caruso, however, Korenciova handled the deflection easily.

Ten minutes before the break, Bonansea struck a crafty lob towards the Milan goal. Korenciova showcased her reflexes and pushed it for a corner kick. The striker then had another chance when Cernoia quickly served Bonansea on the left. She found herself face-to-face with Korenciova, but Bergamaschi, who anticipated the shot, closed down the action.

Bonansea did eventually grab the equaliser through an assist by Aluko on the brink of half-time. The Lioness international fed through a ball from the right to her colleague, who then hit a precise diagonal ball that struck the post and went into the back of the net.

The resumption of the second half, saw both Juventus and Milan make changes of their own. Bonansea, who was enjoying a lot of goal-mouth action, saw her effort go slightly wide of the target just after the hour mark.

Juventus then took the lead in the 74th minute courtesy of an assist through Tuija, who fed the ball through to Caruso. Her effort sailed into the back of the net, leaving Korenciova unable to make the save. That strike would prove to be the decisive goal as Juventus went on to claim a crucial away victory in the Coppa Italia clash.

The return leg will be played at Vinovo on 17 April, kick-off at 13:00 (CET).

Here's what Coach Rita Guarino had to say after the game:

“It wasn’t easy to comeback after having fallen behind straight away. We grew throughout the game and we did well to move in this direction. The girls did well to find the equaliser before the break, and certainly after in the second half, we had our chances and we did things better. The attitude was right in order to win the game and to attack.

"Certainly, to win will always give you an advantage in a two-legged match like this ahead of the return fixture. It’s important to react, after conceding a goal immediately from our mistake you risk going behind again. It makes things difficult, above all, the play won’t be fluid. Throughout the game we improved and we managed to get the equaliser before the break. Arianna Caruso scored a beautiful goal – I am happy for her. This reaction forms part of the maturity process and character building. The international break takes away the energy, but obviously it’s important for the experience, especially in a year that there is the World Cup. Up next we travel to Bari, it’s at a hostile ground. We have two days to prepare for it."

Juventus XI: Giuliani, Hyyrynen, Gama, Salvai, Boattin, Pedersen, Caruso, Cernoia, Girelli (Glionna 70'), Aluko (Sikora 78'), Bonansea (Cantone 89')

Substitutes: Panzeri, Nick, Cantore, Glionna, Ekroth, Sikora, Bacic

AC Milan XI: Korenciova; Heroum, Fusetti, Mendes, Tucceri (Carissimi 78'); Bergamaschi (Manieri 55'), Alborghetti, Giugliano, Zigic (Thaisa 55'); Giacinti, Sabatino

Substitutes: Zanzi; Manieri, Capelli, Carissimi, Longo, Moreno, Coda.

Your exclusive access to the world of the Bianconeri