Roma Women 3-2 Napoli: Bartoli secures narrow win

The two sides had traded goals in the first 50 minutes in the Italian capital, before Bartoli eventually decided the contest for good with a pinpoint header with just under 30 minutes remaining.

The Giallorosse, looking to build on the momentum gained from the midweek 7-0 cup win over Roma CF, actually fell behind early on - as Evdokiya Popadinova got the last touch on a near-post header to break the deadlock.

But Betty Bavagnoli's side recovered well, as Annamaria Serturini equalised with a typically pinpoint finish - before Andressa Alves put the side ahead shortly before the break with an emphatic penalty.

But Napoli equalised by the same method early in the second half - Sarah Huchet the player who took responsibility - to set up a dramatic final phase of the match.

That was until Bartoli rose to meet Lindsey Thomas's cross, with the goal ultimately proving enough for Roma to clinch a valuable three points.

"It was a victory we really wanted, really needed," Bavagnoli said.

"So it's important it arrived - for our morale, for our confidence and for the future as well. We suffered at times today, that's clear, and we have to give credit to Napoli for that.

"But the thing I liked is that we never gave up, we kept believing and in the end we got the win that we really, really wanted."

See more photos from the game in the gallery below!

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