Juventus 1-0 Roma Women: Frustrating defeat for Giallorosse

Roma Women fell to a painful 1-0 defeat away to Juventus Women on Friday afternoon, as their perfect start to the campaign came to an end.

Alessandro Spugna's side dominated the contest for large swathes - especially in the first half - but were ultimately punished for their inability to find the net, as Valentina Cernoia's fortuitous cross-shot looped in early in the second half to decide the game.

The Giallorosse were a constant threat around the opposition penalty box but never quite managed to find a way past a resolute Juventus backline.

Manuela Giugliano was also sent off midway through the second half after picking up a second yellow.

"It was an incredible first half display from us, with at least three really good chances to score," Spugna said afterwards.

"In games like this you just can't afford not to take the chances you get, because then at the first bit of bad luck - I don't know really what else to call it, even if Cernoia is good at scoring - you suddenly find you have lost the game.

"The thing that I hold onto is the fact that even down to 10 men we responded well; we controlled the ball, we kept the rhythm high. We changed things, we took risks, we stayed in the match.

"It's a shame; perhaps we deserved something more today in terms of the final result."

Spugna's side are back in action on Tuesday - they face Sparta Prague in the first leg of their Champions League play-off decider.

See more photos from Friday's game in our gallery below.

1 / 25

2 / 25

3 / 25

4 / 25

5 / 25

6 / 25

7 / 25

8 / 25

9 / 25

10 / 25

11 / 25

12 / 25

13 / 25

14 / 25

15 / 25

16 / 25

17 / 25

18 / 25

19 / 25

20 / 25

21 / 25

22 / 25

23 / 25

24 / 25

25 / 25