Fiorentina’s first-leg victory in the Coppa Italia Femminile semi-final over Juventus at a rain-drenched Stadio Franchi was witnessed by 1,200 delighted fans on Sunday. Sebastian De La Fuente’s side grabbed a slender lead to take into the return tie thanks to a powerful strike from close range by Michela Catena on 65 minutes.

It was a game in which the Viola often found themselves on top, with Veronica Boquete and Miriam Longo firing in plenty of efforts on goal without finding the back of Roberta Aprile’s net. While neither team managed to break the deadlock in the first half, Fiorentina showed their intent straight after the restart when Catena struck the woodwork. A few minutes later, Madelen Janogy sent a low cross into the middle, the ball bobbled around and eventually landed at the feet of Catena, who thumped a powerful shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the six-yard box.

An angered Juventus tried to bite back, with Barbara Bonansea causing problems for the Fiorentina defence on multiple occasions, but the rearguard held firm until the end to secure a one-goal advantage ahead of the second leg next Saturday at 15:00 CET in Biella with a final berth at stake.

ACF Fiorentina 1-0 Juventus (HT: 0-0)
Scorer: Catena 65.

ACF FIORENTINA: Baldi, Georgieva, Agard, Faerge, Erzen, Catena (Bellucci 90+1), Severini, Johannsdottir (Cinotti 66), Boquete (C), Longo (Lundin 81), Janogy (Mijatovic 81)
Subs not used: Schroffenegger, Parisi, Toniolo, Tucceri Cimini, Russo.
Coach: Sebastian De La Fuente.

JUVENTUS: Aprile, Garbino (Bonansea 72), Cantore (Thomas 66), Girelli, Boattin, Palis, Caruso, Salvai (C), Calligaris, Echegini (Nystrom 72) Lenzini.
Subs not used: Gama, Cafferata, Peyraud Magnin, Bragonzi, Cascarino, Pelgander.
Coach: Joe Montemurro.

Booked: Caruso, Calligaris, Catena.