Women, Inter win the derby! Bugeja seals a 1 - 0 victory over Milan
Inter Women
— 10 hours agoA right-footed strike for the forward late in the first half secures the derby for the Nerazzurre: they sit comfortably in second place in the table
A spectacular shot from the edge of the box in the final moments of the first half, followed by a second half full of focus and determination, and scenes of pure joy at full-time. Bugeja's wonder moment secured the derby for Inter against Milan on matchday 20 of Serie A, with the Nerazzurre clinching second in the league. Their Scudetto dreams come to an end as Roma beat Ternana 2-0 to be crowned Italian champions with two matchdays to go, but Piovani's side top off a sensational season by also winning the return derby.
It was a tightly contested game decided by a moment of brilliance just before the break. After an early chance for Inter, when Vilhjalmsdottir hit the crossbar, and Giuliani denied Bartoli, Hayley Bugeja broke the deadlock in the 44th minute with a low strike from the edge of the box into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the Nerazzurre at half-time.
After the break, Milan were eager to respond and came close through Dompig's strike, which ultimately hit the crossbar, and Stokic's attempt, which hit the side netting. Inter remained solid defensively, but the closing stages grew more tense as Milinkovic was sent off in the 88th minute, leaving the Nerazzurre down to ten players. Milan were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage, with Cernoia's free-kick going wide, and Inter saw out the game to claim a 1-0 victory and secure second place in the table.
INTER 1-0 MILAN WOMEN | SCORESHEET
Goals: 45' Bugeja (I) INTER (3-5-2): 1 Rúnarsdottir; 33 Bartoli, 24 Milinkovic, 5 Andrés; 13 Merlo (3 Bowen 66'), 27 Csiszar (20 Detruyer 45'), 10 Magull, 8 Vilhjalmsdottir (18 Glionna 79'), 22 Schough; 31 Wullaert (9 Polli 64'), 7 Bugeja (16 Tomasevic 79'). Substitutes: 23 Ivarsdottir, 34 Ferraro, 14 Robustellini, 19 Paz, 29 Giudici, 44 Consolini. Coach: Gianpiero Piovani
MILAN (4-3-3): 1 Giuliani; 2 Koivisto, 25 De Sanders, 23 Piga (15 Stokic 59'), 21 Keijzer; 8 Arrigoni, 12 Mascarello, 11 Grimshaw (5 Cernoia 77'); 10 Van Dooren (80 Kamczyc 77'), 99 Dompig, 7 Kyvag (18 Renzotti 77'). Substitutes: 13 Estevez, 24 Tornaghi, 5 Cernoia, 6 Sorelli, 17 Sesay, 39 Donolato. Coach: Suzanne Bakker Stoppage time: 3', 6' Booked:
Referee: Palmieri Assistants: Callovi, Bosco Fourth Official: Gambirasio