Parma, 26 March 2023 – Parma were beaten 1-0 by Sassuolo at the Tardini in the second round of matches of the Relegation Round  of Women’s Serie A. The Ducali remain third from bottom on 13, ahead of Como (12) and Sampdoria (11).

Head coach Domenico Panico’s side started brightly as Nora Heroum fired over (2′) and Paloma Lázaro saw her cross cut out by the Neroverdi’s goalkeeper. Our guests, on the other hand, were twice caught offside.

It was a tight and tense game with few chances; Alice Benoit’s cross was taken easily by Isabella Kresche (21′). Sassuolo looked to strike back two minutes later with a brilliant ball from Gram Caroline Pleidrup to play in Daniela Sabatino, who fired wide. In the 25th minute, Alice Benoit’s well-struck free-kick was saved by Kresche, but Erika Santoro latched onto the rebound and looked to get the ball back into the box, only for it to strike the arm of Benedetta Brignoli. Referee Mattia Caldera awarded a penalty to Parma but Lázaro’s spot-kick was saved by Kresche.

In the 28th minute, Benoit whipped it in for Lázaro, who headed off target. Two minutes later, Filangeri crossed in towards Philtjens, who forced a save from Parma stopper Gloria Ciccioli, who is in the side in place of the injured Capelletti. Valeria Pirone, meanwhile, is back and captaining the side following a long spell on the sidelines through injury.

Ciccioli was tested again in the 35th minute but got down well to keep out Melissa Bellucci’s effort. Sassuolo made their first change in the 41st minute as Philtjens came off injured to be replaced by Virag Nagy. Brignoli’s cross for Sabatino was then cut out well by Ciccioli (43′). Then, in the first minute of added time, Nagy brought down Pirone in the box and the referee once again pointed to the spot. Up stepped Melania Martinovic this time, and again Kresche made the save to send the sides into the break locked at 0-0.

Panico sent on Mia Corbin to start the second half in place of Martinovic. In the 52nd minute, the hosts came close through Brignoli, who fired just over the bar. Substitute Corbin then found Erika Santoro, who moved it on to Lázaro but the Spaniard’s shot from a tight angle went over the bar. Four minutes later, Corbin found a pocket of space in the box and forced a big stop from Sassuolo shot-stopper Kresche. In the 62nd minute, Brignoli had another go from the edge of the box but again she sent her effort over the crossbar. Gianpiero Piovani then sent on Martina Tomasello for Sassuolo (67′) while Pirone had been replaced by Michela Cambiaghi two minutes earlier for the hosts. Santoro had a chance to open the scoring but her effort was underhit and easy for Kresche to deal with (69). Lana Clelland was then stopped by Ana Jelenčić before Sabatino sent her effort high. The hosts got their goal 30 minutes into the second half; Clelland’s effort was saved by Ciccioli but Tomaselli turned home the rebound (0-1). Two minutes later, both coaches were booked for dissent.

Panico made another change in the 79th minute, sending Nicole Arcangeli on in place of Bianca Bardin. Heroum crossed in for Santoro who, free in the box, headed over (83′). Both coaches made changes for the final few minutes: Marchão on for Jelenčić for Parma and Nowak and Monterubbiano on for Dongus and Clelland for Sassuolo. The fourth official signalled six minutes of additional time but there were no further chances, save for a speculative effort from Marchão and a free-kick from Benoit. Sassuolo won 1-0.

PARMA 0-1 SASSUOLO 0-1 ( WOMEN’S SERIE A RELEGATION ROUND MATCHDAY 2)

Goals: 75′ Tomaselli

PARMA (4-3-2-1) – 12. Gloria Ciccioli; 11. Nora Heroum, 77. Giovanna Maia, 14 Ana Jelenčić (87′ 5. Joana Marchão), 27. Erika Santoro; 6. Alice Benoit (V. Cap.), 73. Danielle Cox, 4. Bianca Giulia Bardin (34′ st 30. Nicole Arcangeli), 9. Valeria Pirone (Cap., 65′) 36. Michela Cambiaghi), 29. Paloma Lázaro Torres Del Molino; 24. Melania Martinovic (46′ 3. Mia Elizabeth Corbin).
Coach: Domenico Panico
Subs.: 67. Matilde Ravanetti; 19. Margret Arnadottir, 28. Giorgia Arrigoni, 44. Margherita Brscic, 71. Niamh Farrelly

SASSUOLO (3-5-2) – 12. Isabella Kresche; 85. Maria Luisa Filangeri (Cap.) 32. Lea Tamar Dongus (88′ 33. Julie Nowak), 4. Gram Caroline Pleidrup; 20. Benedetta Orsi (V. Cap.), 15. Benedetta Brignoli (67′ 21. Martina Tomaselli), 10. Melissa Bellucci, 6. Refiloe Jane, 2. Davina Brigitte Philtjens (86′ 77. Virag Nagy); 18. Daniela Sabatino, 26. Clana Clelland (88′ 27. Valeria Monterubbiano).
Coach: Gianpiero Piovani
Subs: 73. Nicole Lauria; 8. Giada Pondini, 9. Maria Eleonora Goldoni, 11. Dajan Hashemi-Ghermezi,  28. Martina Brustia

Referee: Mattia Caldera
Linesmen: Giorgio Ravera and Glauco Zanellati
Fourth official: Luca De Angeli

Bookings: the two coaches Panico and Piovani
Added time: 2’+6’
Attendance: 525 (132 paid) for an income of €660