The twenty-third day of the Women’s Serie B opens with the important direct clash between Cesena and Lazio, fundamental in terms of promotion. Before kick-off the two teams were separated in the standings by 4 points.
After a match of great intensity, the victory goes to Lazio, who beat the Bianconere by 2-3 at the Martorano Sports Center and once again climb to the top of the table with 62 points, while Cesena maintains third place.
After an overall balanced start to the match, the home team took the lead in the 18th minute with a great counterattack led by Lonati, who skipped past Eriksen and served a cross into the penalty area for Sara Tamborini: the Juventus number 10 stopped and hit the ball with her right foot he kicks with power, surprising Guidi. Lazio’s reaction was not long in coming and arrived after just sixty seconds with Louise Eriksen who, following a corner taken by Moraca, anticipated everyone and headed the ball into the net.
With this immediate draw, the match comes to life. In the 30th minute Cesena took the lead again, this time with a goal from former player Sofieke Jansen assisted by Martina Sechi. In the 43rd minute, however, Lamti brings down Visentin in the penalty area: referee Eremitaggio has no doubts and awards the penalty to Lazio. Giusy Moraca goes from the spot, making no mistakes and scoring his thirteenth goal of the championship, thus bringing the result back to a draw.
In the second half, Grassadonia decides to bring in fresh forces and puts Adami and Goldoni in place of Pittaccio and Colombo, while Conte brings in Catelli in place of Lamti. The first minutes of the second half saw strong pressure from Lazio, who came close to taking the lead on several occasions, the biggest of which came in the 54th minute with Castiello taking advantage of an excellent assist from Moraca without however managing to find the target. In the 68th minute Cesena made a double substitution: Sechi and Tamborini out, Nano and Calegari in.
In the 70th minute, Lazio found the advantage thanks to Maja Göthberg: great insertion from the Swede, who eluded Cesena’s defense and lobbed the ball in behind Serafino. In the 77th minute there is a new substitution for Lazio, with Popadinova leaving the pitch due to cramps, giving way to Hovmark: shortly after, in the 83rd minute, Palombi comes on in place of Visentin. Cesena instead made the last substitution in the 84th minute, with Milan replacing Jansen.
In the final minutes of the match Lazio’s pressure increases. In the 90th minute, following a corner from Moraca, Serafino thwarted the possible fourth goal for the Biancoceleste with a great save on Hovmak. In the 92nd minute, an incredible double opportunity for Lazio, with Moraca first hitting the crossbar, then Hovmark also tries but hits the post.
After 4 minutes of added time, the match ended 2-3 for Lazio: seven days before the end of the championship, another very important victory arrived for the girls from Grassadonia. While awaiting the results of Hellas Verona-Ternana and Parma-Arezzo (scheduled for tomorrow at 12.30pm and 2.30pm respectively), Lazio consolidates their temporary first place and sees themselves increasingly projected towards Serie A, while the Cesena wasted the opportunity to close the gap on Umbria and undermine their bid for promotion.
CESENA – LAZIO WOMEN 2-3
Scorers: 18′ Tamborini (C), 19′ Eriksen (L), 30′ Jansen (C), 44′ Moraca (L), 70′ Gothberg (L)
CESENA (4-2-3-1): Serafino; Casadei, D’Auria, Groff, Cuciniello; Mak, Lamti (58′ Catelli); Lonati, Jansen (83′ Milan), Tamborini (69′ Nano); Sechi (69′ Calegari). Available: Marchetti, Risina, Galli, Amaduzzi, Costa Coaches: Alain Conte
LAZIO (4-3-1-2): Do you drive; Pittaccio (46′ Adami), Mancuso, Reyes, Gothberg; Castiello, Eriksen, Colombo (46′ Goldoni); Moraca; Visentin (84′ Palombi), Popadinova (77′ Hovmark). Available: Fierro, Ferrandi, Kuenrath, Varriale, Proietti. Coach: Gianluca Grassadonia
Referee: Enrico Eremitaggio
Assistants: Stefano Allievi-Gregorio Maria Galieni
Mark Jesus
