Cristiana Girelli was in unplayable form for Juventus Women on Thursday evening as they secured a huge 5-0 Women’s Champions League win over Zurich to give themselves a fighting chance of qualifying from the group stage fo the second consecutive year running. Joe Montemurro and his Juventus Women side now know that a win over European champions Lyon on December 21 will see them through.
Girelli came into the game confident after a huge goal in Juventus‘ 4-2 win over Serie A Femminile leaders AS Roma on Sunday, and she netted as many as four times against the Swiss on a snowy night in Turin, where kick-off had to be delayed for 45 minutes for snow to be removed from the playing surface at the Allianz Stadium, the lines were repainted red and the winter ball was in use. Lineth Beerensteyn got Juventus’ other goal.
The state of play in Women’s Champions League Group C now is that Arsenal are qualified for the quarter-finals despite losing 1-0 to Lyon on Thursday, with the WSL side on 10 points. Lyon are second on 10 points and Juventus have eight in third. The Bianconere travel to France for their final group game knowing that only a win will see them through, whereas a draw will suffice for the reigning European champions.
Girelli unstoppable
Girelli opened the scoring inside two minutes on the night, with Zurich caught cold early on after the snow-enforced delay to kick-off. Beerensteyn flicked a cross on at the near post, and the forward met it with a clever back-heeled flick of her own in mid-air that crept over the line.
Beerensteyn added a second before she was fouled for a penalty that Girelli dispatched with a panenka.
The second half was only 12 minutes old when Girelli netted again, and she got her fourth and Juventus’ fifth of the night just a couple of minutes later with another spot kick.
Irina Pando was sent off for the visitors with a few minutes remaining.
AS Roma are in Women’s Champions League action on Friday, facing St. Polten in Latina with a chance to confirm their place in the quarter-finals.
