Adriana Gomes scored a late goal to salvage a point in the battle of the exes, as Napoli Femminile visited San Marino on Matchday 11.
Lineup
Dimitri Lipoff made three changes to the squad he fielded against Genoa as he switched back to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Ex-San Marino player Aurora De Sanctis dropped into her usual position at left back, relegating Federica Veritti to the bench. Meanwhile, Martina Di Bari returned to the starting lineup to start over another former San Marino player, Serena Landa, at right back. Sara Tui also returned to the starting XI to play in the three-woman midfield. Finally, Elisa del Estal got her first start, replacing Romina Pinna on the left side of the front two.
Match
Though neither team scored in the first half, San Marino Academy, coached by ex-Napoli coach Giulia Domenichetti, were the more positive side.
In the 10th minute, Yesica Menin’s weak effort was stopped by Matilde Copetti, moments after Simona Zito’s direct free kick sailed over the bar. Two minutes later Raffaella Barbieri appeared to be clear on goal but Melissa Nozzi – another ex – was quick to close her down and block the shot.
San Marino ran a set piece on the ensuing corner kick. Gaia Bolognini snuck into the area and poked the low cross toward the goal, but the ball glanced the outside of the upright and rolled out of play.
Lipoff’s halftime talk, combined with the substitution of Romina Pinna for Del Estal, seemed to work at the start of the second half, with Napoli being the aggressors. In the 49th minute, Sara Tui slipped the ball through to Gomes in the area. However, the Portuguese striker took one too many touches, allowing goalkeeper Francesca Montanari to close the angle and make the save.
It was a strong start to the half, but less than five minutes later, San Marino opened the scoring with a lovely team goal. The move began with a goal kick for the home side. San Marino moved the ball the length of the pitch with only five passes, before midfielder Giorgia Bertolotti blasted a shot from outside the area that curled into the top corner.
After conceding, Napoli further increased the intensity, pushing forward for the equalizer. Moments after Giulia Ferlandi’s volley fell comfortably into the waiting arms of Montanari, Pinna’s strike from the edge of the area hit the outside of the goal.
Minutes later, Gomes won a free kick in a dangerous area. Sara Tui went direct for goal but the ball crashed off the bar and stayed out. With the momentum entirely in Napoli’s favour, the equalizer finally arrived in the 81st minute.
Sara Tui played a long ball to Gomes, who had no support on the right side of the field. The Napoli bomber dribbled past Zito before hitting a long, looping strike over Montanari and into the side netting at the far post. With her eighth of the Serie B campaign and 10th in all competitions, Gomes levelled the score at one.
Neither side generated any quality opportunities in the final ten minutes plus stoppage time. With the 1-1 draw, combined with Lazio, Ternana and Cesena victories, the Partenopee dropped to fourth in the table. The Femminile will be back in action on December 18th with a hugely important match against top-of-the-table Lazio.
Post-Match
Though she was happy to score, Adrian Gomes rued Napoli’s failure to secure a better result ahead of the clash with Lazio.
“We could have done better, especially in the first half, but honestly we could also have won it in the second half when we lacked a bit of luck given that they took the lead in our prime. This is a long and balanced championship in which the promotion race will not be limited only to Lazio (currently in the lead) and us. Now we have to prepare the match against the leaders in the best possible way, trying to make the home factor count. I scored a good goal but when you don’t win there’s little to rejoice on a personal level”
