THE ROSSONERE UNDER PAR: ROMA WIN 2-0

AC Milan's women's team put in poor performance away at Rome coming away from the capital empty-handed on matchday two of the 2022/23 Women's Serie A. With some injuries in the squad and several key players out of form, Ganz's side matched the Giallorosse for the opening 15 minutes, but ended the half conceding to give the home side control of the match. The deciding goals came through Minami and Giacinti in the first half to seal a 2-0 win.

For the Rossonere, there were few signs of improvement from their opening day defeat to Fiorentina, with, worryingly, very little creativity and liveliness going forward. Out of players on show, Laura Giuliani showed her international quality making several fine saves and stops. Now, it is time to reset and turn their focus to the next game on Sunday 18 September, where they will return home to PUMA House of Football to face Sassuolo.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM ROMA v AC MILAN

MATCH REPORT
The game started off at a fast pace with the first opportunity falling to AC Milan on 7 minutes, after a nice bit of play: Dubcová's cross-come-shot cut across the area was picked up by Tucceri Cimini whose strike on goal went just wide. The Giallorosse's reply wasn't long in the waiting and on 10 minutes Haavi played a delightful cross to Andressa whose swivel and shot was easily saved by Giuliani. Roma continued to press forward and took the lead after 19 minutes. Serturini's diagonal ball was quickly collected by Minami and her strike was deflected into the net. AC Milan were feeling the pressure and continued to be pushed back by the home side. Giuliani first saved from Giacinti's close-range shot and followed up with another fine save from the striker after a poor back pass from K. Dubcová. The Rossonere keeper was again called into action on 31 minutes blocking two attempts from Serturini. But she couldn't do anything to stop Giacinti doubling the home side's lead after the Italy striker, on the back of sealing World Cup qualification for the Azzurre, made a bursting run through the middle to strike low into the corner from the edge of the box. In first-half injury time, Thomas tried with a header but failed to trouble the Roma keeper.

The second half opened with a scuffle, that involved Giuliani but the AC Milan number one gritted her teeth and took her place back between the posts. With the result in the home side's favour, they intentionally slowed the game down and took control of possession. The first chance of the half came to Roma on 60 minutes with Andressa setting up Haavi, who came in from the right-hand side, but whose shot was blocked by the Rossoneri defence. From the resulting corner, Giuliani blocked Giacinti's close-range turn and shot. Again, another corner for Roma on 70 minutes created problems for AC Milan, and again Giuliani was there to keep the score down from Wenninger's deflected attempt. Ganz tried to mix things up by putting on Thrige and Vigilucci but the changes did not have the desired effect. Towards the end, there was some nice link-up play between Glionna and Haug but AC Milan's final line of defence was out of her box rapidly to smother the ball. No other action of note happened, with the game ending 2-0.

MATCH DETAILS

ROMA 2-0 AC MILAN

ROMA (4-3-3): Ceasar; Bartoli, Wenninger, Minami, Di Guglielmo; Andressa (76' Cinotti), Giugliano, Greggi; Serturini (73' Glionna), Giacinti (73' Haug), Haavi. Subs: Lind; Landström, Kollmats; Cinotti, Ferrara, Bergersen; Lazaro. Coach: Spugna.

AC MILAN (3-4-3): Giuliani; Árnadóttir, Fusetti, Mesjasz; Soffia (76' Vigilucci), Adami (65' Thrige), K. Dubcová, Tucceri Cimini; Bergamaschi, Piemonte, Thomas. Subs: Beka; Guagni; Mascarello; Asllani, M. Dubcová. Coach: Ganz. 

Referee: Collu from Cagliari.
Goals: 19' Minami (R), 43' Giacinti (R).
Bookings: 41' Soffia (M), 55' Adami (M).

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