THE WOMEN'S CUP: ROSSONERE BEATEN IN THE FINAL
Women
The Women's Cup concluded with yesterday's final as the Rossonere were beaten by Atlético Madrid in an even game, with the Rojiblancos scoring an injury-time winner through Santos. AC Milan's performance was more than positive and there were plenty of good signs for the season to come. At the Centro Deportivo Wanda Alcalá de Henares, Coach Ganz's side had their chances to win it, most notably through Marinelli 21 minutes into the second half.
The equilibrium on the pitch lasted beyond the 90 but Santos' goal in the 92nd minute was a hammer blow for our team, who probably deserved a result. Now, the Rossonere travel to Toulouse for the Amos Cup, which will be played at 18:00 tomorrow, Monday 28 August. The Rossonere will take on Atlético Madrid again in the semi-final, but on the other side of the bracket are Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM AC MILAN v ATLÉTICO MADRID
MATCH REPORT
Both sides took the opening stages of the match to study their opponents. The first chance of the match fell to Soffia in the 19th minute as she cleaned up Cernoia's corner and let fly from outside the box, deflected and then saved. Three minutes later, Dompig's ball in found Grimshaw, whose effort flew over the crossbar. Cernoia first and then Grimshaw both failed to get onto the end of the pass in a good position. The Spanish side grew into it and almost opened the scoring through Santos, who forced Giuliani into a brilliant save.
The second half began with chaos in the AC Milan penalty area, though Vigilucci scrambled the ball clear. The hosts grew into it and threatened Giuliani's goal on two occasions: first with Sheila's header, over, and then a chance for Ajibade, which Guagni cleared. Ganz made a double switch, sending on Laurent and Marinelli. Gloria, in the 66th minute, had the Rossonere's clearest-cut chance of the match, sending her right-footed effort just wide. Atleti pushed in the final minute of normal time but Sheila fired over. That was, however, the prelude to the winner for the Rojiblancas: in the second minute of added time, Santos played a neat one-two with Ajibade and beat Giuliani with her left. It ended 1-0 but we have to praise our girls.
MATCH DETAILS
ATLÉTICO MADRID 1-0 AC MILAN
Atlético Madrid (4-2-3-1): Gallardo; Moraza, van Dongen (46' Xenia), Menayo, Medina; Majarín, Santos; Cardona (76' Gabi), Banini, Ajibade; Guijarro. Subs.: Larqué, Vicky, Tanarro, Reyes, Nerea, Dargel, Zafra, Sara M., Sara G., Cinta, Alexia, García. All.: Sánchez.
Milan (4-3-3): Giuliani; Guagni (67' Thrige), Árnadóttir, Vigilucci, Bergamaschi; Grimshaw, Cernoia, Adami; Soffia (60' Laurent), Stašková (87' Jonušaitė), Dompig (60' Marinelli). Subs.: Van Eijk, Copetti, Zanini, Cesarini, Fusetti. All.: Ganz.
Referee: Espinosa Ríos (ESP).
Goal: 90'+2 Santos (A).
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