AS ROMA – SERVETTE FCCF 3-1 (1-0): GENEVOISES CRACK LATELY

Servette FCCF lost 3-1 to AS Roma in this first leg of the Women’s Champions League play-offs. The Genevans held on by equalizing in the second half but missed the boat by conceding two goals in the last ten minutes. They will have to play a great match next Thursday at the Stade de Genève to hope to taste the prestigious competition.

To qualify for the Champions League, the Servettiennes must eliminate a big name in European football: AS Roma. The Italians, two-time reigning Italian champions, have reached a quarter-final in 2023 in the European competition. Big favorites of the confrontation, the Transalpines were surprised by the Servettiennes in this match. Indeed, well positioned defensively, José Barcala’s players were able to protect their goal against the Romans’ attacks. Together, they played intelligent and composed football. The goal was to limit the damage to create doubt in the Italians’ minds.

However, AS Roma opened the scoring thanks to a goal by Minami in the 38th minute, exploiting a cross deflected by the Geneva goalkeeper. This goal put pressure on the Servettiennes, who then began to play without complexes and take possession of the ball. In the second half, José Barcala’s players quickly set the tone and were able to equalize! After Amina Muratovic recovered the ball, Daïna Bourma was able to launch Cassandra Korhonen. The Finnish winger took the ball back to lob the Italian goalkeeper (55th minute).

At that point, the goal was simple: to keep this result to offer themselves a return match where anything would be possible in Geneva, next Thursday. The Grenat continued their momentum and played at the same level as the Italian champions. They created several chances but were unable to take the lead. While we were heading towards a promising draw for the Servettiennes, the Romans showed why they were the big favorites in this confrontation. In the last ten minutes of the match, they scored twice thanks to their Canadian international, Viens. First, she took advantage of a Genevan loss of the ball on the edge of the 16-meter line to give her team the lead again (84th minute), then she scored a header from a corner in the 93rd minute. In the space of a few minutes, the score went from 1-1 to 3-1, completely changing the face of the play-off.

Now, Servette FCCF is forced to perform a feat at home against the Italians. They will have to come back from a two-goal deficit and score a third to secure qualification for the Champions League. A mountain to climb, but nothing is impossible for this team. José Barcala’s players will need a large and exemplary crowd next Thursday, at the Stade de Genève, from 7 p.m., to push them to achieve this feat! Tickets are already available on the online ticketing.