ROSSONERE BEAT VERONA 7-2 TO GO INTO THE QUARTERS

The Rossonere got their Coppa Italia campaign off to a flying start as they smashed Hellas Verona 7-2 at the Sinergy Stadium to go through to the quarter-finals. The goals from Grimshaw (hat-trick, all three assisted by Dompig), Laurent (x2), Jonušaitė and Fusetti. Maurizio Ganz's side have shown an immediate reaction to the late defeat against Juventus and got themselves back on track ahead of stern tests against Como Women and Pomigliano. Christy Grimshaw was the star of the show as she bagged a hat-trick while wearing the captain's armband, but praise has to go to the entire team.

There was plenty of good news for the gaffer too: Julie Piga returned to the side after missing the team's first three outings, while Giorgia Arrigoni (who joined us from Verona) made her AC Milan debut. There was also a smile on the face of Rimantė Jonušaitė, who, after a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury, finally scored her first goal for the Rossonere - to make it 7-2. After a game that was never in doubt, AC Milan can now focus on their two upcoming away days in the league; there is still time to get back into it.

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM HELLAS VERONA v AC MILAN

MATCH REPORT
There was only ever going to be one winner in Verona as the Rossonere dominated from start to finish. Following two early chances, Grimshaw opened the scoring in the 17th minute; the Scottish midfielder received the ball from Dompig and calmly tucked it away. The Chanté-Christy connection arose again in the 25th minute as the pair carved out a chance similar to the first for Grimshaw to convert with ease - 2-0. Hellas surprisingly halved the deficit through Pasini (27') but the Rossonere restored their lead from the penalty spot before the break, scored by Laurent. A minute later, Valzogher made two stops, first to deny Thrige and then Dompig.

The tempo increased after the break and there were two goals in as many minutes. First, Fusetti headed home from a corner to make it 4-1, and then the hosts got on the scoresheet for a second time, another header but this time from Ledri (49'). Three minutes later, AC Milan got their fifth and Grimshaw her third; Dompig made it a hat-trick of assists to set up a hat-trick of goals for Christy. The Rossonere's sixth came in the 63rd minute, Laurent making it a brace with a cross-cum-shot that went in before Grimshaw could get on the end of it. Ganz made a raft of changes, handing a debut to the young Giorgia Arrigoni, formerly of Hellas Verona, and giving minutes to Jonušaitė. And the Lithuanian made use of them, wrapping up proceedings in the 87th minute with a powerful right-footed effort following a counter-attack orchestrated by Grimshaw.

MATCH DETAILS

HELLAS VERONA 2-7 AC MILAN

HELLAS VERONA (4-3-3): Valzolgher; Bursi (46' Requrez), Zanni, Dallagiacoma (46' Rognoni), Capucci; Sardu (46' Mancuso), Ledri, Lotti (65' Mariani); Anghileri, Pasini (46' Bison), Kiamou. Subs: Shore, Meneghini; Corsi, Datres. Coach: Pachera.

AC MILAN (4-3-3): Copetti; Árnadóttir, Piga, Swaby (46' Fusetti), Thrige; Grimshaw, Mascarello (78' Arrigoni), Adami (70' Dubcová); Laurent (70' Stašková), Dompig (76' Jonušaitė), Marinelli. Subs: Giuliani; Bergamaschi, Guagni, Mikulica. Coach: Cordone.

Referee: Muccignato from Pordenone.
Goals: 17' Grimshaw (M), 25' Grimshaw (M), 27' Pasini (HV), 43' pen. Laurent (M), 47' Fusetti (M), 49' Ledri (HV), 52' Grimshaw (M), 63' Laurent (M), 87' Jonušaitė (M).

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