Keys to Victory: Simonetti pulls strings in Verona

Exactly one month since their last league game, Roma obliterated their opponents with a high-energy performance, to make it five games unbeaten in all competitions.

The game started on a bright note, with striker Maria Zecca giving the Giallorosse the lead inside 30 seconds. From that point, Roma continued to put Chievo to the sword, with Annamaria Serturini notching a brace to give the side a 3-0 advantage at half-time.

Late in the second half, substitute Martina Piemonte added a fourth, before Flaminia Simonetti completed the scoring to seal a resounding victory.

Here’s a recap of the pivotal factors that helped Roma win the encounter.

Key Moment

This win was all about the way the team started the game. When Maria Zecca curled home a strike from the left wing so early in the game, it set out Roma’s intentions for the match.

The goal itself was an impressive display of technique from the American, who had been restored to the starting lineup by coach Betty Bavagnoli. Giada Greggi stayed strong to beat her markers, before feeding the ball to Zecca, who had peeled away to a space at the side.

Zecca confidently hit the ball first time, elevating it into the top corner. It gave Roma a platform to build on, and they needed no invitation to kick on from there.

Key Player

She hasn’t always been a starter this year, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell from Flaminia Simonetti’s performance. The No. 7 kept her place in midfield from the midweek Coppa Italia draw with Fiorentina, and she took her chance again by helping Roma find their rhythm in the game.

It was Simonetti who started the move for the opening goal, by intercepting a loose pass from a Chievo defender. The 22-year-old provided Roma with momentum by giving it first time to Agnese Bonfantini.

With Roma having established a foothold in the game so quickly, they could continue to put pressure on their opponents with their fast-flowing passing game, which Simonetti was a key part of.

The midfielder was influential in setting up Roma’s third goal as well, passing the ball to Elisa Bartoli, who assisted for Serturini.

In stoppage time, Simonetti got the goal that her performance deserved, after being unselfishly set up by Serturini. Instead of going for her hat-trick, the winger squared the ball to Simonetti, who, after seeing her first attempt blocked, slid the ball home into an open net.

Key Decision

The first half-hour of the second period had gone by without a great deal of goalmouth action, so Bavagnoli, not content for the side to rest on their laurels, decided to freshen things up in attack. Maria Zecca had put a good shift in, but Martina Piemonte could inject some more liveliness into Roma’s frontline.

Within 10 minutes, the change had had the desired effect, when Piemonte latched onto Serturini’s low cross from a free kick. The No. 18 tapped home to make it 4-0 to Roma, restoring their scoring touch.

A Chievo comeback had been extremely unlikely before Piemonte’s introduction, but even so, she gave Roma a new dynamic to make sure that the Giallorosse kept their intensity up for the entire 90 minutes.

Key Fact

With her first goal of the afternoon, Annamaria Serturini became the first player to reach 10 goals for Roma Women. The forward is the side’s top scorer this season, and once again demonstrated her eye for goal as she took her tally into double figures.

Her first goal against Chievo was a composed finish after her blistering pace had seen her get past the opposing right-back. For her second, she took a leaf out of Zecca’s book by curling the ball in from out wide on the left – with this powerful strike coming from further out than her teammate’s opener.

Serturini is currently enjoying a bright patch of form, which also saw her score her first senior international goal at the start of the month, when she netted in Italy’s 3-0 win over Hungary.

The 20-year-old got Roma’s goal in the Fiorentina draw in the first game back at club level, and continued her good spell against Chievo.

Roma Women return to action on Sunday, as they host Atalanta Mozzanica at Stadio Tre Fontane. Entry for fans is free.