PIEMONTE GETS AIRBORNE, THE ROSSONERE WIN FIRST LEG OF SEMI-FINAL

The first leg of the Women's Coppa Italia semi-final went to AC Milan: the Rossonere won 1-0 over Roma thanks to a great goal at the end of the first half by Martina Piemonte at the PUMA House of Football. It was an impressive header that capped off a display of character from Ganz's team, who held their ground in the best possible way against the women's Serie A leaders and a team also performing well in the Women's Champions League. Plenty of chances, from both sides, on a Milanese afternoon with the Rossonere also recording their fourth clean sheet in five Coppa Italia matches this season.

What made today's success even more precious was the fact that Roma came into the match on a streak of eight consecutive victories between the league and Coppa Italia, and a streak of 28 games in a row with at least one goal scored. Applause for the whole team, who produced one of the best performances of the season in front of stands packed with Rossonere fans - CEO Giorgio Furlani was among them - and in the first match with the PUMA  Fourth Kit produced in collaboration with KOCHÉ. The best possible way to go into the return leg, scheduled for Saturday 11 March at 14:30 CET at the Tre Fontane in Rome: a place in the Final is at stake.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v ROMA

MATCH REPORT
It started at a high pace with two chances in the first 120 seconds: first Bergamaschi missed a tap-in on Piemonte's ball in, then Glionna with a right-footed shot just missed the far post. In the 8th minute, Dubcová had a great chance, tackled in the box by Linari after Grimshaw's pass, while in the 11th minute Babb made stops on Giacinti and Greggi's efforts. The pace slowed down and it was Roma who had the best chances, first with Giacinti's left-footed shot in the 19th minute and then Haavi's looping shot in the 30th minute, which Babb repelled. However, AC Milan defended neatly and broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute with an unstoppable header from Martina Piemonte, who got up the highest from a corner. The Rossonere number 18 had the chance to double the score on the stroke of half-time, but her left-footed shot finished high.

The second half began with another great chance for the Rossonere: in the 49th minute, Bergamaschi's cross on a counter-attack grazed the post to Öhrström's right. The Giallorossi pushed on but failed to find any interesting gaps in the careful Rossonere rearguard, leaving space for Ganz's team to counter-attack. In the 61st minute, Guagni tried from the distance, but the ball finished wide. There followed two chances from corner kicks: in the 63rd minute Dubcová drew a save from Öhrström's, and shortly afterwards Nouwen's shot came up short. The intensity increased despite fatigue settling in to the players from both sides. AC Milan gave up little, and Roma's best chance came in the 87th minute, with Babb again overcoming a shot from new substitute Kramžar. It was the last chance of the match, which ended 1-0 to the Rossonere.

MATCH DETAILS

AC MILAN 1-0 ROMA

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Babb; Guagni, Mesjasz, Nouwen, Thrige; Grimshaw, Adami, K. Dubcová; Bergamaschi (89' Soffia), Piemonte, Vigilucci. Subs: Fedele, Giuliani; Carage, Fusetti; Bahlouli; M. Dubcová, Sevenius. Coach: Ganz.

ROMA (3-5-2): Öhrström; Bartoli, Linari, Minami; Glionna, Losada (46' Wenninger), Giugliano, Greggi, Haavi (71' Serturini); Andressa (71' Kramžar), Giacinti. Subs: Ceasar; Di Guglielmo, Kollmats, Landström; Ciccotti, Cinotti. Coach: Spugna.

Referee: Bordin (Bassano del Grappa).
Goal: 42' Piemonte (M).
Booked: 90' Giugliano (R).

The AC Milan Fourth Kit for the 2022/23 season is available: buy it now!