Fittingly, Napoli’s top scorer Adriana Gomes scored the only goal in a 0-1 victory over relegated UPC Tavagnacco as Napoli Femminile earned promotion back up to Serie A.
Lineup
Biagio Seno made only two changes to the squad that drew against Cittadella. Valentina Puglisi and Giulia Ferrandi started in the midfielder over Sara Tui and Claudia Mauri, respectively. Meanwhile, Sara Tamborini played in the No. 10 over Sabah Seghir.
First Half
Napoli created the first chance of the match 10 minutes after kickoff. Giulia Ferrandi overhit her corner kick but Martina Di Bari recovered the ball on the left wing. The Napoli full back picked out out Elisa del Estal in the area and she controlled the ball with her chest. The Spaniard smashed the ball into the ground on the half-volley but Tavagnacco goalkeeper Lisa Marchetti reacted quickly to kick the low shot away. Romina Pinna went for goal on the rebound but her shot finished wide of the mark.
Del Estal came close again in the 19th minute after Matilde Copetti played a long ball into the Tavagnacco half. Elena Poli failed to clear the danger, allowing Di Bari to charge down the right wing. Once again the right back picked out del Estal in the area, but the forward, who appeared to be open in front of the goal, took a poor touch and nothing came of the opportunity.
Meanwhile, Tavagnacco did not create their first chance until shortly after the midway point of the first half, and it was a fortunate chance at that. Paola Di Marino made an important block on a volley by forward Júlia Diaz Ferrer. The shot was hit with so much power that the ball popped straight up in the air, and it had so much back-spin on it that it nearly bounced into the top corner. However, Copetti kept her focus and tipped the ball over the bar.
Moments later, Napoli appeared to be robbed of a penalty kick. Once again, Ferrandi overhit her corner kick. This time Giulia Giacobbo chased down the loose ball on the left wing before running at Marica Licco in the area. Giacobbo appeared to be fouled after dribbling past the midfielder towards the by line, but the official awarded Tavagnacco a goal kick.
Napoli’s next chance came at the half-hour mark. Di Bari’s cross was cleared by Taleb Amel straight to Ferrandi. The Napoli midfielder, who has demonstrated an ability to score from distance, tried her luck from 30 yards out, but Marchetti made the save.
Di Bari created many problems with her steady stream of crosses from the right side of the midfield. Less than a minute later, she lobbed the ball into the area, looking for the run of Pinna. Elisa Donda got to the ball first and, in an attempt to clear the ball, she nearly volleyed it into the top corner of her own goal.
Though they were pinned in their own half for the majority of the half, Tavagnacco defended well enough to keep the visitors off the score sheet. However, for the same reason, Tavagnacco created very few chances of their own.
Second Half
Napoli picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, pushing forward but missing the decisive final ball. The Partenopee nearly opened the scoring in the 54th minute, after a lovely give-and-go between del Estal and Sara Tamborini. The Spaniard picked out Gomes in front of the goal but Poli and Marchetti came together on the goal line to block the shot.
Napoli continued to push forward and finally broke through in the 56th minute. Del Estal chased Giacobbo’s cross to the right corner flag before dribbling past Sofia Rosolen towards the by line. The striker squared the ball in front of the goal, where Gomes fought to poke in her 23rd of the season.
With the lead, Napoli slowed the tempo of the match, looking to maintain possession. Yet, they nearly doubled their lead in the 77th minute. Shortly after a Napoli throw-in, Giacobbo passed to Gomes at the left corner of the area. With her back to goal, the Portugal native took a touch to pop the ball up before trying an audacious, spinning-volley. She connected fully, but the shot needed slightly more dip to find the top corner.
The visitors got their second best chance of the half moments later. In the 81st minute, del Estal and Giacobbo pressed high and forced a turnover in the final third before del Estal teed up Sabah Seghir for the shot. The substitute hit the ball first-time from outside the area and would have found the back of the goal had it not been for an excellent save by Marchetti. The Tavagnacco goalkeeper stretched fully to push the ball off the bar and out.
With less than ten minutes remaining, the Partenopee continued to seek a second goal. After Gomes held the ball up from a Napoli throw-in, another substitute Antonia Dulcic went for goal, but her curling, left-footed effort finished on the roof of the goal.
With Napoli constantly attacking, Tavagnacco did not create their first chance of the second half until the 86th minute. However, it was a dangerous chance after Paola Di Marino pulled down Carolina Morleo at the edge of the Napoli area. Matilde De Matteis stepped up and went direct for goal but her powerful strike narrowly missed the bottom corner.
That was the final chance of the match for either side, as Napoli help on for the 1-0 victory, guaranteeing first place in Serie B Femminile. With Lazio’s 1-0 victory over Arezzo, Napoli’s victory was required to guarantee promotion to Serie A.
Post-Match
Club President Alessandro Maiello spoke after the match.
“It was the victory of a club capable of regenerating itself last summer after relegation. We reset and started again amid many difficulties but with great professionalism both in the staff and in the team”.
Honorary president Lello Carlino also addressed the media.
“We have not lost our soul, that Neapolitan spirit that has always distinguished us and that permeates this group of girls who have become true Neapolitans. Congratulations to the president Maiello and to all the members who have believed in this project which is about to reach its twentieth year of life, we hope to celebrate it by playing a good championship in Serie A.”
