Women’s Italian Cup, Rome in the quarterfinals. Beat the Pomigliano
There was no better way to end 2021. Roma Women won 3-1 in Pomigliano and secured the quarter-finals by winning group H.. By virtue of the better goal difference compared to yesterday’s opponent, a draw would have been enough, but Sponge’s team wanted to “dispose of” the post derby joy with another success, the right conclusion to a calendar year made of constant growth and wet from a trophy, the Italian Cup. The coach has re-proposed the three-way defense already seen against Tavagnacco and Sampdoria, a module that the team is assimilating, filing away the critical issues and exploiting its characteristics. Against Pomigliano the Giallorossi dictated the pace of the match from the kick-off, making it clear how important it was not to count, there was just to win. From so much push on the flanks came the advantage in the 26th minute: Bartoli from the left put a ball on the edge of the area for Ciccotti, good and precise with her left to beat Buhigas in the low corner. Post-goal and 1-0. The line-up chosen by Spugna amplitude and yesterday with the work of Bernauer and Giugliano Roma managed to range from one band to another, putting the opponent in difficulty even with the central tracks. From his side, Pomigliano, for being a newly promoted player, has put the Giallorossi in difficulty (even if occasionally), relying on the quality of Ippolito or on speed restarts. After a first fraction in pain, the home team found an unexpected equalizer in the 52nd minute by exploiting a lack of attention from the Roma defense on a corner: Cox headed 1-1. And Roma felt the pinch, losing lucidity in their choices and perhaps “feeling” the pressure of the moment a little too much, given that a knockout meant a sensational elimination. Between the draw and the 72nd minute, when Spugna gave a turning point to the match with the changes (inside Pirone and the newly arrived Haavi in place of Serturini and Lazaro), Pomigliano even touched the advantage. Then the reds raised the pressure and Bernauer arrived: as in the derby, he scored with a Swiss header, putting an end to the suffering and signing the 2-1 (79 ‘). The final exclamation point was put by Pirone (who also scored in the derby) at 90 ‘, to seal a well-deserved success, in the face of a more than decent performance by the opponent. Since participating in the Italian Cup (2018-19), Roma have always reached at least the semifinals and, as title holder, they could not be outdone. In the next round, Spugna’s team will have to face one between Como (Serie B team that drew with Sassuolo, surprisingly eliminating him for goal difference) and Verona. Before diving into 2022, however, the Giallorossi will enjoy a well-deserved rest until 27, then it will be the turn of the Supercoppa semifinal with Milan.