Roma Women were made to work for their second Coppa Italia trophy, but the fact they went the distance and got to lift it despite a fairly tiresome performance was testament to their mentality as champions.
A penalty shootout win over Fiorentina completed Roma’s first ever domestic double, after they had to fight back from a two-goal deficit in the second half.
As the following grades will show, it wasn’t their best ever performance – perhaps not helped by an unusual kick-off time – but there were still some significant contributions towards the victory.
Camelia Ceasar – C+
The first time Roma won the Coppa Italia, three years ago, it was largely because of Ceasar, who was utterly majestic in that edition’s penalty shootout. However, she was partially to blame for the fact Roma had to go that far this time.
Her lack of concentration led to Fiorentina’s opening goal after a failed attempt at playing out from the back, which was frustrating. She generally looked uncomfortable with the ball at her feet throughout.
And yet, as has happened so many times before, Ceasar came to Roma’s rescue when it went to penalties. With the scores all level ahead of the final spot kick each, Ceasar saved Emma Severini’s effort to put Roma on match point. It just isn’t a penalty shootout without a crucial Ceasar save.
Elisa Bartoli – B
Roma’s captain put in a shift as always at right-back, looking the more useful of their starting full-backs. She lasted until partway through extra time, showing her seniority and ultimately getting her hands on a fifth trophy with her beloved club.
Moeka Minami – B+
Roma’s defensive display was not perfect and Minami encapsulated that, with her failure to deal with one Fiorentina attack leading to one of their goals. But she made amends by scoring the goal that halved the deficit, and otherwise put in a battling display, making a crucial block to limit the scoreline increasing further, for example. She cramped up towards the end of extra time after a committed effort.
Elena Linari – B
Like her centre-back partner, Linari had some lapses in concentration but her professionalism eventually shone through. After missing a penalty in the shootout three years ago, this time she scored one to give Roma some crucial confidence.
Lucia Di Guglielmo – C-
With Fiorentina causing problems in attack and Di Guglielmo sometimes putting her side under pressure with her passing, she was withdrawn by Alessandro Spugna and could not have many complaints.
Saki Kumagai – C
Despite some tidier moments, the game sometimes went beyond Roma’s defensive midfielder, who was emblematic of their seemingly stretched output.
Manuela Giugliano – A-
Like Ceasar, Giugliano’s general play was uncharacteristically underwhelming, and yet Roma would not be celebrating this trophy without her. Her passing in open play seemed looser than usual. Yet Giugliano managed to make all three assists for Roma’s goals – including a scorpion-style flick for the opener, whether intentional or not – and was also responsible for various other chances.
Giada Greggi – C
Greggi struggled to recycle possession in the way she normally does and was justifiably taken off by Spugna. Ironically, though, in the later stages it felt like the game needed a Greggi, indicating how much more beneficial it would have been to have her playing towards her maximum level.
Evelyne Viens – A
Roma’s most dangerous attacker. Even before her late equaliser, Viens looked the most likely to cause Fiorentina damage. She ultimately concluded her debut Roma season by scoring in a fifth consecutive game, something only Andressa Alves (twice) has done before her for the club.
Valentina Giacinti – B
Giacinti put her body on the line to level things up for Roma in the first half, taking a clattering from Rachele Baldi split-seconds after heading in the goal that made it 1-1. Perhaps impacted by that collision thereafter, she didn’t make as much of an impact beyond it.
Emilie Haavi – B
Haavi also tried to make things happen and as always explored different angles of attack. In a generally fatigued display by the team, the Norwegian was one of the more energetic players.
Substitutes
Sanne Troelsgaard – B
At the end of the last game of the contract she signed in the winter, Sanne Troelsgaard wrote herself into Roma folklore by scoring the winning penalty. It could be a fitting way to go out, but she has more than earned an extension if she wants it.
Alayah Pilgrim – C
Pilgrim tried to inject some dynamism into Roma’s attack but sometimes lacked shrewd decision making.
Anja Sonstevold – C
Brought on at left-back, Sonstevold did better than the player she replaced, marginally. She missed her penalty, but credit to anyone who steps up in a moment of pressure.
Benedetta Glionna – C
Glionna appeared to be someone who would have been useful to introduce earlier, but her performance never quite caught fire.
Oihane Valdezate – B
Valdezate has barely played in her debut season in Italy, but helped Roma see through the closing stages of extra time by offering some defensive solidity and then scored an emphatic penalty.
Laura Feiersinger – C
Replacing Haavi at half time of extra time, there was little time for Feiersinger to influence things.
Coach
Alessandro Spugna – B
Did he overthink it? Or were Roma just tired? It wasn’t the most thrilling performance, but any coach who leads Roma to a trophy should be celebrated. And especially one who does so twice in one season. After beating Fiorentina the week before with a rotated lineup, he chose his strongest players this time, which ironically didn’t have the same impact, but a final is always going to be different. Making some bold decisions throughout – such as taking off Greggi and Giacinti at the times he did – Spugna saw the game through to leave it to the fate of penalties. He was not let down from there. Still a learning coach, Spugna has elevated Roma to become the best team in Italy and they have undeniably proved it this season.
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