GIACINTI BAGS A BRACE AS THE ROSSONERE BEAT NAPOLI

It wasn’t a pretty win, nor was it easy. However, the Rossonere managed to win on their return to action after the international break, picking up three vital points away to Napoli thanks to a brace from captain Giacinti. Vitale’s red card for a second bookable offence and Goldoni’s penalty to reduce the arrears meant that Coach Ganz’s team had to dig in as the match was coming to a close, but the Rossonere remained compact, closed down the spaces and managed to successfully stop their opponents from scoring an equaliser. Returning to the pitch after not playing for almost a month was always going to be difficult, but the team ultimately did enough against a side who are desperately fighting for points. The Rossonere have now won three in a row and sit on 18 points in the league, with Juventus and Sassuolo set to face each other in an important showdown on Sunday. Roma will be the visitors to Vismara next weekend, and AC Milan Women can’t afford to lower their guard.

REPORT
Napoli were very aggressive in the opening stages, but it was the Rossonere who broke the deadlock: in the 15th minute, Tucceri Cimini’s free kick was blocked by a Napoli arm in the area, and Giacinti stepped up to score the resulting penalty. AC Milan came close twice with 40 minutes on the clock, but opposition goalkeeper Perez did well to deny Salvatori Rinaldi and then Giacinti, who was recognised for her previous efforts at Napoli, one of her former teams, prior to the match.  

After the restart, AC Milan went up a gear, with Rask calling Perez into action with a great right-footed effort after 50 minutes. Just a minute later, Deborah Salvatori Rinaldi had a goal ruled out for offside. However, it seemed like a matter of time before the Rossonere would score, and a goal duly arrived in the 54th minute: Fusetti fired an effort towards goal and Giacinti was there to provide the finishing touch to make it 2-0. The Rossonere then managed the game well until the 83rd minute, when the referee gave a penalty for a foul on Goldoni by Vitale in the area. Francesca received a second yellow and Goldoni converted the spot-kick to reduce the arrears. Down to ten players, AC Milan held firm in the closing stages and managed to see the game out, bringing home the three points in the process.

MATCH SUMMARY

Napoli 1-2 AC Milan
Napoli (4-4-2): Perez, Huynh, Nencioni, Oliviero, Hjohlman (72' Cameron), Kubassova (64' Beil), Goldoni, Jansen, Nocchi, Capparelli (79' Jacinta), Popadinova. Substitutes: Franco, Franchetti, El Bastali, Catalano, Gallo, Di Marino. Coach: Marino.
AC Milan (3-5-2): Korenčiova; Vitale, Fusetti, Agard; Rizza, Grimshaw (86' Spinelli), Jane, Rask (56' Kuliš), Tucceri Cimini; Giacinti, Salvatori Rinaldi (56' Dowie). Substitutes: Piazza; Bergamaschi, Mauri, Morleo, Nano, Šimić. Coach: Ganz.
Referee: Gallipò di Firenze.

Goals: 16' pen. Giacinti (M), 54' Giacinti (M), 84' pen. Goldoni (N).
Bookings: 13' Kubassova (N), 23' Popadinova (N), 35' Vitale (M), 93' Oliviero (N).
Sent off: 83' Vitale (M). 

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