After trailing for 77 minutes, Napoli Femminile scored twice to take a 2-1 lead into stoppage time. However, the match finished level at 2 apiece after a Citadella goal from a direct free kick taken from 40 yards out.
Lineup
Biagio Seno made only two changes to the squad that defeated Arezzo. Sara Tui returned to the starting XI to play over Giulia Ferrandi on the left side of the midfield. Meanwhile, striker Adriana Gomes started up top, relegating Serena Landa to the bench.
First Half
Cittadella started the match well, opening the scoring only six minutes after kick-off. Midfielder Elena Nichele dispossessed Sara Tui at midfield before Claudia Saggion switched the play to the right wing. Giulia Asta crossed the ball into the area from the right side of the midfield. Di Marino beat Caterina Ferin to the ball, but failed to clear the danger. Nichele took the ball down on the left side of the area and teed up Saggion, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner to give Cittadella the lead.
Napoli nearly equalized midway through the first half on a play that started with a clever backheel by Giulia Giacobbo at midfield. Elisa del Estal played the ball wide to Sabah Seghir on the left wing and she picked out the run of Adriana Gomes in the area. Napoli’s top goal-scorer slid to reach the ball but her volley finished narrowly over the bar.
Cittadella responded immediately with a chance from the ensuing goal kick. The official played two smart advantages, first after defender Laura Peruzzo was fouled in the Cittadella half. Then Ferin was pulled down by Sara Tui as she played the ball forward to Sofia Kongouli. She took on two defenders before striking the ball on target from the edge of the area. Matilde Copetti was deep in her goal but dove to her right to make an excellent save.
The period between the second part of the first half and the first part of the second half was a competitive stalemate, with both sides limiting their opponents’ opportunities to score. However, there was plenty of excitement in the final 20 minutes.
Second Half
Napoli’s first quality chance of the second half came in the 70th minute after Serena Landa fought off the tackle from Saggion before crossing the ball into the area. Del Estal won the header at the second post and played the ball back into the danger area. Romina Pinna was afforded a free shot from the edge of the six yard box but inexplicably volleyed the ball over the bar.
The home side came close again a minute later. Napoli worked the ball swiftly from left to right before Martina Di Bari crossed the ball into the area. Del Estal timed her run perfectly to get behind the Citadella back line. However, her volley was straight at goalkeeper Ilaria Toniolo, who made the catch.
Napoli further increased the intensity in the final ten minutes of the match. In the 82nd minute, Pinna won a free kick in the middle of the park. Giulia Ferrandi played an in-swinging cross into the area. Del Estal was first to the ball and beat the keeper but her header crashed off the bar and stayed out. Pinna was first to the rebound and played the ball back into the danger area. It eventually fell to Antonia Dulcic at the edge of the area but she was unable to keep her shot down.
Napoli pressed high on the ensuing goal kick and immediately won the ball back. Ferrandi played it out wide to Landa, who dribbled past Francesca Larocca before crossing the ball in front of the goal. Toniolo got a hand on the ball but couldn’t clear the danger. After a mad scramble in the area, the ball fell kindly to del Estal and she made no mistake. The Spaniard scored her 14th goal of the season, firing the ball with her left foot, off the underside of the bar and into the back of the goal.
Toniolo was furious with the official for not calling a foul against Napoli and was subsequently dismissed for dissent, forcing Citadella to finish the match with 10 players.
It appeared as though the game would end in a 1-1 draw, but there was plenty of drama remaining. In the final minute of normal time, Di Bari played a long free kick into the Citadella area. The visitors headed the ball clear, but Dulcic slid to poke the ball back to Ferrandi. The Napoli midfielder struck the ball first-time, firing a rocket into the top corner from 30 yards out.
With the lead and an extra player, it seemed like Napoli would coast to victory. However, due to the goal celebrations and various injury stoppages, Napoli would have to suffer through eight minutes of stoppage time. In the second minute of stoppage time, Citadella were awarded a free kick after del Estal fouled Nichele forty yards from the Napoli goal. Carlotta Masu audaciously went direct for goal and managed to beat Copetti with a shot that bounced in front of the goal. Copetti hesitated on the shot, which allowed the ball to bounce into the bottom corner to make the score 2-2.
Neither side scored during the final six minutes of stoppage time. However, with Lazio’s shock 2-2 draw against Hellas Verona, the Partenopee remained at the top of the Serie B Femminile table. A win against Tavagnacco on the final matchday of the season would guarantee promotion back up to Serie A.
