TURIN – After the battle in the first leg which saw Torino Woman prevail 3-2 in these women’s excellence play-off quarter-finals, a new battle is about to repeat itself. In fact this was the case. The two teams faced each other head on and in the first half of the game there was a certain balance with rare scoring opportunities but a lot of substance in the midfield with the defenses almost always getting the better of the opposing strikers. The hosts play a more complex and technical game while the opponents have their best characteristic in their physicality.
After the first quarter of an hour, Torino took the lead thanks to a beautiful goal at “F. Inzaghi” by striker Bazzocchi, who on the run, after the third consecutive corner, hits the ball in the penalty area, swelling the net for the first time. The reaction of the guests was not long in coming; Gueye, true dominator of the midfield, scores from a few meters away, following a precious serve from Zappone who is quick to take advantage of a defensive lightness. A couple more emotions give us this exciting first half including the injury of Torino FC’s captain Aghem (injury to the superciliary arch) and the penalty in the 41st minute missed by Munafò (Toro) who hits his powerful right-footed shot onto the crossbar. In the second half the story doesn’t change, total aggression across the pitch from the players of both teams.
Of course the game appears more fragmented given the considerable physical and mental efforts but Torino FC appears fresher and more dynamic in building the game. The 22 players on the pitch were indomitable warriors with the Torino Woman excelling in the opening minutes thanks to potential attempts that went slightly off the mark. Dindo of the “torella” gives the charge and in the 30th minute the substitute Grieco finds the home advantage thanks to a splendid pocket. The Torino Woman suffered the blow by not being able to react unless aided by their nervous strength, managing, in truth, to create a huge opportunity with Furione in the 41st minute, a great shot which was diagonally out of the small area but a champion’s response from Gasparini who in fact it saves the advantage and the result.
Eight minutes of injury time were not enough for the visitors to develop dangerous opportunities and indeed, at the last second, they conceded the third goal again with Bazzocchi after a light-speed restart. This magnificent and painful challenge ends with Torino FC’s deserved passage to the next round, with better play and more incisive forwards, ready for a semi-final full of fire and flames. While the rivals of Torino Woman are left with the regret of having wasted the advantage of the first leg but still giving a demonstration of a very strong and determined team.
