Opinion: Resolve shines through as Roma Women reach final

It was certainly a rollercoaster tie, but it ended in jubilation for Roma Women after outdoing Juventus to reach the Coppa Italia final.

Across two legs separated by over a month, Roma’s mental fortitude shone through as they won their semi-final on away goals – prompting much anticipation for a first-ever cup final in May.

Since setting up their women’s team in 2018, Roma have been working towards a landmark like this. Having reached the semi-finals of the competition in all three years of their existence to date, the Coppa Italia is now a very feasible target.

The way they overcame the strongest side in Italy was commendable. To do so in a one-off tie would be impressive enough, but to emerge victorious after two gruelling matches required spirit, sacrifice and dedication.

Those qualities were displayed in both legs of the semi-final. In March’s first meeting, Roma beat Juventus for the first time ever, taking advantage of the hunger that fuelled them, no matter who stood in their way.

Right from the off, their intentions were clear, with Annamaria Serturini’s early goal providing the solid foundation that the side required.

The winning goal that day, which came two minutes before full-time, also showed the commitment Roma were driven by, with Lindsey Thomas finding one last drop of energy to burst in and bundle the ball home.

If Roma had worked hard for that result, they would require even more effort to retain control of the tie when visiting Vinovo for the return leg in April. Fortunately, that’s what they provided.

Rather than making an instant impression, this time Roma showed their patience. Their nerves will have been running high when they conceded in the first half, which meant they had to respond. It took the best part of an hour for that to happen, but when they did strike back, the tension palpably lifted.

Scoring twice in quick succession within the final 15 minutes turned the tie back on its head – recapturing the resilient qualities they had shown in the preceding league match against Fiorentina – and made Juventus’ two late goals inconsequential (even if commentators on Sky Italia briefly thought otherwise).

Roma had sensed their opportunity and made the most of it.

It was fitting that both of Roma’s goals that day came from corners. A similar avenue often provided Juventus with their best opportunities, so for Roma to respond in the same manner was symbolic of the strides they had taken to match and ultimately overcome the champions.

But it wasn’t just their advantageous use of set pieces that helped Roma progress. There was an overall atmosphere of sacrifice and response to adversity. For example, goalkeeper Camelia Ceasar was influential in keeping the score down at Vinovo, while Elisa Bartoli also played through the pain barrier after going down with an injury in the second half.

The member of Roma’s rear-guard with the biggest impact, though, was Elena Linari – and not just in those two matches. Since her arrival in January, the Italy international has transformed the club’s fortunes, helping them go from a good side sometimes troubled by inconsistency to a results machine.

Despite her only joining midway through the campaign, Roma have won more games with her in the team than without her this season, tasting defeat just twice in her first 11 appearances. The second of those defeats certainly didn’t feel like one.

The acquisition of Linari represented how Roma are establishing a clearer identity. While Allyson Swaby and Tecla Pettenuzzo were doing well as a centre-back partnership earlier in the season, the club noticed an opportunity to add an extra level of quality to that department – and it has been one of their best decisions yet.

After the full-time whistle, Linari gathered a group of players together, leading chants of “Noi Siamo La Roma”. The moment encapsulated what this achievement meant to the squad, and how integral one of its newest members is.

Players like Linari make the difference in games of this magnitude, with Manuela Giugliano being another example. Determined from the first whistle, the midfielder was critical to Roma’s structure and her corners led to the crucial goals from Thomas and Paloma Lazaro.

“We’ve worked hard every day to get better and now we’re seeing the results of that on the pitch,” Giugliano said afterwards.

She was right; this season has been a microcosm of the gradual but definable improvements Roma have made over the past three years and a reward is now in sight.

Those same players will need to step up again for a match that will overtake the second leg against Juventus as the most important in Roma Women history yet – the final against Milan.

Once more, Roma will face a team with plenty of big-game experience who have been in strong form. The only side to have beaten Milan in the league this season is Juventus – but if Betty Bavagnoli can motivate her players against one of those teams, she will be able to do so again against the other.

“We have written ourselves into the history of this club,” the coach said afterwards. That is true, but now the target will be to write an even better chapter.

The final promises to be a true marker of how far Roma have come, but they gave enough evidence against Juventus to answer some of that question already.


Follow Samuel Bannister on Twitter: @SamBanno1