Quinn’s Fiorentina fall short in final
LOUISE QUINN and her Fiorentina teammates left the Stadio Aldo Gastaldi with a wicked sense of déjà vu, after falling to defeat to Juventus in the Supercoppa Femminile final for the second season in a row.
Blessington-native Quinn, who scored the winner in their 2-1 win over AC Milan in the semi-final on
January 6, started in her first cup final for her new club, but could do little to stop them falling 2-0 to the Old Lady.
Much as she has done for most of her debut season in Italy, Quinn partnered Alice Tortelli at the heart of the Viola defence, while the club’s top scorer, Daniela Sabatino deputised up front with Abigail Kim. Much of the first-half was nip-and-tuck, in which both sides enjoyed their fair share of openings.
From a Juventus corner, Lina Hurtig drew a smart save from Katia Schroffenegger, as the Fiorentina goalkeeper was kept busy throughout the game. At the other end, Sabbatino had her side’s best chance of the half, when she was sent through on goal by Frederike Thogerson, only for the Italian’s resulting shot to be too tame to threaten Laura Giuliani.
The Serie A leaders finally took the lead on 39 minutes.
A lapse of concentration from Tessel Middag allowed Arianna Caruso to take a quick free-kick to Barbara Bonansea, who cut inside onto her left foot before drilling the ball into the far corner from the edge of the area.
It took them just ten minutes of the second-half to double that advantage. A hopeful ball into the area from out the field was half cleared to the edge of the box, where Bonansea popped up again to send a well-struck right-footed volley into the bottom corner.
Valery Vigilucci sent a headed effort straight at Giuliani as Fiorentina tried to claw their way back into the game, but it wasn’t to be, as Juventus repeated the same trick from 15 months ago.
Quinn’s attention now turns to the league, in which they will next meet San Marino on January 17.