A dominant Inter beats Como Women 2 - 0 with goals from Vilhjálmsdóttir and Bugeja

Two wins from two, four goals scored and none conceded. Inter Women’s excellent start to the season continued with a second successive league victory, as goals from Vilhjálmsdóttir and Bugeja secured a 2-0 win over Como Women at the Mino Favini in Meda. It was a performance full of character and quality from the Nerazzurre following their midweek Champions League clash with Austria Wien. Sassarini’s side were positive, well organised and determined throughout, eventually making their superiority count with two goals in an intense second half. Vilhjálmsdóttir opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Bugeja added the second. In between, Vilhjálmsdóttir missed another penalty and Bugeja struck the post, further underlining Inter’s attacking threat. The Nerazzurre move to six points in the table and bring the first run of fixtures before the international break to a perfect close.

THE MATCH

The sun was beginning to set on the first Sunday of October as the game got underway. Both sides looked to build from the back and combine quickly on the ground, but the intensity of the contest made clean execution difficult at either end. Inter gradually took control. Sassarini’s side pressed aggressively, won the ball back well and created a number of promising situations as they searched for the breakthrough. The first real scare came through Raphino, who turned brilliantly in a tight space inside the box before sending a left-footed effort narrowly wide. The Nerazzurre found plenty of joy down the right, with Glionna heavily involved. She went close twice, first after winning the ball high up the pitch and curling a left-footed shot just past Gilardi’s right-hand post, then with a right-footed volley from a corner that flew over the bar. Despite their territorial dominance, Inter were unable to find the opening goal before the break. Como Women looked to threaten on the counter, but without creating any clear chances to trouble Rúnarsdóttir.

Inter continued to dictate the game after the break, with Sassarini turning to his bench and introducing Bugeja, Payne and Bartoli to add fresh energy. The breakthrough arrived in the 59th minute. Glionna once again met a corner with a volley at the far post, and the ball struck Berardi’s arm. Following an FVS review, Inter were awarded a penalty, which Vilhjálmsdóttir converted emphatically, sending a right-footed finish across Gilardi for her second goal of the season. Como Women struggled to respond and the Nerazzurre kept pushing, although the hosts did threaten briefly when Simonetti’s long-range effort flew narrowly wide. Inter raised the intensity again as they looked to put the game beyond doubt and won a second penalty in the 77th minute, once more for handball from a corner as Borbye blocked Raphino’s header with her arm. This time, however, Gilardi kept out Vilhjálmsdóttir’s spot-kick. Sassarini’s side were undeterred and continued to pour forward in search of a second. Bugeja hit the post at the end of a huge double chance, a warning of what was to come just moments later. In the 83rd minute, the Malta international got the goal her performance deserved. A superb, fast-flowing move was opened up by an excellent through ball from Glionna, and Bugeja finished right-footed past Gilardi, with the ball going in off the post. Inter comfortably managed their two-goal advantage through ten minutes of added time to seal a second successive league victory and another clean sheet. The Nerazzurre will return to action on 18 October, when they host Parma.

COMO WOMEN 0-2 INTER | MATCH DETAILS

Goals: 63' pen. Vilhjálmsdóttir (I), 83' Bugeja (I)

Como Women (3-5-2): 22 Gilardi; 2 Marcussen, 5 Howard, 3 Ronan; 77 Borbye, 17 Vigliucci (11 Bersiha 77'), 20 Simonetti (16 Moretti 89'), 13 Nesbeth, 6 Bergersen; 12 A. Nielsen (10 Chidiac 89'), 9 Bernardi (27 Zamboni 77'). Substitutes: 30 Ruma, 32 Babb, 4 Saga, 8 Hubaut, 19 Serra, 21 Viesti, 24 Bianchi. Coach: Paolo Tramezzani

INTER (4-4-2): 1 Rúnarsdóttir; 4 Van Diemen (33 Bartoli 53'), 24 Milinković, 5 Andrés, 14 Robustellini; 18 Glionna, 6 Santi, 8 Vilhjálmsdóttir (29 Giudici 89'), 20 Detruyer (17 Payne 53'); 26 Raphino (36 Cambiaghi 81'), 9 Polli (7 Bugeja 53'). Substitutes: 12 Forcinella, 99 Belli, 2 Kullberg, 16 Tomašević, 22 Schough, 46 Bressan. Coach: David Sassarini

Booked: 35' Gilardi (C)

Added time: 2', 10'

Referee: Costa Assistant referees: D'Andria - Cattaneo Fourth official: Laugelli FVS operator: Chimento