ROSSONERE OUT OF THE COPPA ITALIA WOMEN
Women
It was a cruel blow for AC Milan Women, who got knocked out of the Coppa Italia Women by Fiorentina once again, just like last season. Compared to 12 months ago, which also featured a 1-1 draw in the first leg (with a Rossonere goal from Arrigoni), the match at the Viola Park told a very different story. Grimshaw and her teammates clearly deserved a better outcome in Tuscany based on their performance, from the many chances created going forward to the defensive solidity shown, especially over the first 80 minutes. What separated the two sides and sent the Viola through to the semi-finals was Bredgaard’s stoppage-time winner, sealing the final scoreline of 1-0.
As it was a few months ago in the league, Fiorentina struck in the dying embers of the game, proving more clinical, also thanks to fresher legs off the bench compared to a more makeshift AC Milan side (especially at the back). There is a feeling of regret, but also confidence among the Rossonere, who were aggressive and brave with the new system built around Van Dooren as a centre-forward, well supported by the ever-involved and influential duo of Kyvåg and Stokić. The chance to bounce back now comes in the league, where AC Milan will face Genoa in Solbiate Arno on Sunday 1 February at 12:30. Come on, girls!
CHECK OUT THE GALLERY FROM FIORENTINA v AC MILAN
MATCH REPORT
Both teams started well, playing at a high tempo at the Viola Park. Our first shot came in the 5th minute through Kyvåg from distance, a right-footed effort that did not trouble Fiskerstrand. Nice Rossonere build-up play in the 14th minute, but Park was thwarted by the defence as she was about to shoot. AC Milan looked lively again in the 26th minute, when Park’s curling right-footed effort from a good position was deflected out for a corner by Van der Zanden, and shortly afterwards Grimshaw fired over with her right foot from the edge of the box. Fiorentina tried to play through Janogy, but a fine counter-attack led by Kyvåg ended in the 40th minute with a left-footed shot tipped out for a corner by Fiskerstrand. The Rossonere kept pushing, but the teams went into the break goalless.
The second half began with two changes for the Viola and an early chance for Van Dooren, whose left-footed turn inside the box sailed over the bar. In the 51st minute, Arrigoni struck from the edge of the area, saved low by Fiskerstrand. Fiorentina threatened at the 54th through Tryggvadóttir, whose powerful reffort skimmed past the post with Giuliani beaten. Milan kept pushing, creating another counter-attack that ended with a curling left-footed shot from Stokić drifting just wide. The big chance arrived in the 69th minute: Kyvåg, with the goalkeeper beaten, narrowly missed the far post with a left-footed diagonal effort. A double opportunity followed soon after in the 73rd minute for Van Dooren and Stokić, but once again the breakthrough did not come. In the closing stages, Janogy, Grimshaw and Severini all went close, the latter forcing a superb reflex save from Giuliani in the 88th minute, but, as in the league meeting, the final say belonged to Fiorentina, who found the decisive goal through Bredgaard in the 91st minute.
MATCH DETAILS
FIORENTINA 1-0 AC MILAN (2-1 on aggregate)
FIORENTINA (4-3-3): Fiskerstrand; Woldvik, Van der Zanden, Faerge, Johansen (46' Filangeri); Tryggvadóttir (61' Bonfantini), Severini, Cherubini (46' Curmark); Bredgaard (90'+5 Orsi), Omarsdottir (70' Eiríksdóttir), Janogy. Subs: Bettineschi, Cetinja; Tomassoni; Wijnants. Coach: Piñones-Arce.
AC MILAN (4-3-3): Giuliani; Koivisto, De Sanders, Soffia, Keijzer; Arrigoni, Grimshaw, Park (72' Cernoia); Stokić (90' Renzotti), Van Dooren, Kyvåg (80' Dompig). Subs: Estévez, Tornaghi; Donolato; Mascarello; Appiah, Strauss. Coach: Bakker.
Referee: Zoppi from Firenze.
Goal: 90'+1 Bredgaard (F).
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