DOWIE GIVES THEM HOPE: A GOAL FOR THE FINAL SPRINT
Focus
The decisive mark against Empoli was hers. It was enough to get back to winning ways and put two defeats and the most difficult part of the season behind them. On Sunday, Natasha Dowie made it to 10 goals in Serie A Femminile this season as AC Milan moved to 42 points in the table, five more than third-place Sassuolo, and brought qualification to the Champions League that one step closer.
Her performance was about more than just the goal though; it was the usual blend of experience in chasing down the ball in attack and bringing her teammates into the game. As has always been the case until now, her contribution was total and her goals were crucial.
AC Milan needed a win - a deserved one albeit by a narrow margin - in order to get their confidence back and the goal from the veteran English striker has cemented expectations. There are still six games to go in the league and the schedule isn't exactly kind to the Rossonere: next up are Inter, Napoli on 18 April, then they bring it home with Roma, Fiorentina, Sassuolo and Hellas Verona in May.
To use a cycling metaphor, the lead is a good one but it's an uphill finish; the run of three games against Roma, Fiorentina and then Sassuolo (between 2 and 16 May) will surely be decisive in the final standings. In the meantime, however, the first step has already been taking: getting back to winnings ways after having suffered a dent in their morale. Now, and without fear, they can face the rest of the season.
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