Elisa De Estal and Adriana Gomes scored yet again as Napoli took all three point against a direct rival at the top of the table.
Lineup
Biagio Seno, in his first match in charge, made three changes to the squad Dimitri Lipoff fielded against Ravenna. Aurora De Sanctic started at left back over Sabah Seghir. Claudia Mauri started on the right side of the midfield trio over Giulia Giacobbo. Finally, Romina Pinna returned to the starting XI, relegating Sara Tamborini to the bench.
First Half
Napoli got their first chance only two minutes into the match. Giulia Fusar Poli played an errant pass back, straight into the path of Adriana Gomes, but Marika Massimino bailed out her teammate with an important block in the area.
At the other end, Ternana had their first chance in the 14th minute. Eleonora Pacioni played a long ball forward to Anastasia Spyridonidou at the edge of the Napoli area. The league Capocannoniere controlled the well before turning and firing a powerful shot on target. However, the shot was straight at Sabrina Tasselli and the Napoli goalkeeper made the save.
The home side responded with a chance a minute later. Romina Pinna played a long ball into space for Del Estal to chase on the right side of the area. The forward cut the ball back to Gomes in front of the goal but the Portugal native slipped at the crucial moment and nothing came of the opportunity.
Though Napoli didn’t create many chances, they played an aggressive press and made it extremely difficult for Ternana to maintain possession. In the 26th minute, the Partenopee’s hard work paid off.
Gomes drew a foul near the left corner flag after a long throw-in from Aurora De Sanctis down the line. Claudia Mauri played an in-swinging cross into the six yard box, where Elisa Del Estal rose up and glanced a header into the bottom corner at the far post.
Napoli nearly doubled their lead in the 31st minute after Paolo Di Marino played a long ball into the Ternana area. Massimino won the header but only cleared the ball as far as Pinna just outside the area. The Napoli trequartista played a quick give and go with Del Estal at the edge of the area before going for goal. The shot was destined for the top corner but Ternana goalkeeper Katia Ghioc stretched fully to push the ball aside.
Terana responded with a chance of their own two minutes later. Fusar Poli slid to touch the ball to Chiara Vigliucci in the middle of the park. The forward cut to her right, dribbling past Antonia Dulcic, before going for goal. Like Pinna’s effort moments prior, the shot appeared destined for the top corner but Melissa Nozzi got a head on the ball to redirect the ball out for a corner kick.
Vigliucci had another shot on target minutes later. However, the shot from approximately 30 yards out lacked power and Tasselli made a comfortable catch. Ternana persisted and scored an unbelievable equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time. Pacioni switched the play to Camilla Labata on the left side of the midfield. The defender audaciously went for goal from approximately 40 yards out and somehow picked the top corner. With the goal, the sides went into the break all tied at one.
Second Half
Despite conceding the equalizer late in the first half, Napoli burst out of the gates, creating their first chance only two minutes after the restart. Gomes dribbled into the area from the right wing and went for goal from a tight angle. Ghioc made the save but Massimino was only able to clear the ball to Pinna at the edge of the area. She tried an ambitious volley but the shot finished over the bar.
Less than five minutes later, Napoli were awarded a penalty kick. Gomes played a long ball in the direction of Gomes and Del Estal, who were 2 v 2 with the Ternana defenders. After a quick give-and-go, Del Estal played the ball to Gomes towards the right side of the area. The striker cut in to her left and was caught by Federica Di Criscio, earning Napoli a penalty kick. Pinna stepped up to the spot and struck the ball well, but Ghioc guessed correctly and made a fine save.
Though it seemed like things were not going Napoli’s way, the Partenopee showed great resolve and went back ahead three minutes later. The play started with a throw-in on the left side of the park. De Sanctis played a long throw into the area, where Tui was waiting to flick the ball on. Gomes was tackled off the ball, but it fell kindly to Del Estal at the spot. Her effort was weak, but the ball took a deflection off Pacioni in front of Ghioc and ended up in the back of the goal. With the brace, Del Estal has now scored eight goals in her last eight matches.
Ternana did not create their first chance of the half until the hour mark, when Vigliucci crossed the ball from the left wing towards the top of the box. Giada Tarantino controlled with her chest before attempting a volley. She hit the ball full but the shot was always rising over the bar.
Ternana created another chance four minutes later. Once again, the play started with a Vigliucci cross from the left wing, finding Flavia Lombardo at the second post. The forward smashed a volley towards the goal but the ball crashed off the upright and stayed out.
Needing to score, Ternana continued to push forward for the equalizer. In the 75th minute, Pacioni won a free kick on the left side of the midfield. Ternana captain Di Criscio played an in-swinging cross into the area. Spyridonidou won the header inside the six-yard box but somehow put it over the bar. Meanwhile, Tasselli collided with Tui while going up for the catch. The Spaniard stayed down for a while but was able to finish the match.
Ternana came close again three minutes later after Labate dispossessed Gomes at midfield. She laid the ball off to Fusar Poli, who squared to Vigliucci in the centre of the park. The full back went for goal from 25 yards out but her left-footed effort curled narrowly wide of the mark.
After withstanding the barrage of attacks, Napoli settled down and closed out the match well. In the 85th minute, substitute Sabah Seghir played an out-swinging corner kick into the area. Gomes rose up to win the header but the ball finished just outside the far post.
Two minutes later the Partenopee sealed the victory. The play began with Di Marino playing the ball down the line to Del Estal. The Spaniard played a clever flick to get past Vigliucci before touching the ball past Pacioni. Del Estal appeared to be clear on goal but, despite being on a hat trick, she unselfishly played the ball into the path of Gomes. The forward’s sliding effort finished in the back of the goal, bringing her league total to 17 goals.
Napoli had one last chance in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Substitute Serena Landa headed the ball past Pacioni before going for goal. Ghioc stopped the initial effort but the rebound fell to Landa. Her second effort beat Ghioc but Massimino cleared the ball off the line.
Nevertheless, Napoli held on for an important 3-1 victory over a direct rival. However, with Lazio’s 4-0 victory over Genoa and Cittadella’s 2-0 victory over Trento, Napoli remained third in the table.
Post-Match
Elisa Del Estal addressed the media after scoring two goals and adding an assist in the victory.
“This victory keeps us alive in a difficult and balanced championship, we are also at the top. The team has shown that they have the attributes and know how to react well to the difficulties of a difficult match. Now we want to continue on this path without stopping anymore”
