Azzurre and Sweden share Women's Nations League spoils in Parma

STADIO ENNIO TARDINI (Parma) - The Italy Women’s National Team opened the door for Denmark to overtake them in their UEFA Women’s Nations League group, playing out a goalless draw with Sweden in Parma on Friday evening.

With summer having just announced itself on Parma in the 48 hours prior to the game, a suffocating heat filled the Tardini at the earlier-than-ideal kick-off time of 18:20, and the conditions clearly took their toll on the early exchanges. As the shade from the stadium’s west stand made its way further across the pitch, though, things settled considerably and more football was played.

Sweden’s Johanna Rytting Kaneryd had the first sight at goal from range, but Laura Giuliani did well to dive to her left and keep it out. 

Then the Azzurre grew into things, and started to cause problems of their own. Manuela Giugliano followed Rytting Kaneryd's lead in shooting from distance, and met the same fate in being denied. Then Emma Severini and Barbara Bonansea similarly tried their luck, with the Juventus Women winger coming closest and narrowly missing the top corner.

Martina Piemonte had the ball in the net moments before the break after a perfect Giugliano free-kick allowed her to head into the bottom corner, but the offside flag thwarted the Lazio forward. Before the break Bonansea had another chance, before Jennifer Falk in the visitors’ goal pulled off a stunning stop to deny Elisabetta Oliviero.

The second half began as the first ended, with Piemonte looking to work Falk again. This time showing some uncharacteristically light feet to skip into space, but her shot from outside the area was similarly uncharacteristic and lacking in anything resembling the power needed to   test the Sweden ‘keeper.

Italy then had the officials to thank for not falling behind, with the visitors having a goal ruled out for an apparent foul on Giuliani.

As the temperature dropped, Sweden stepped up and the Italy goal was the focus of a lot of attention, although the visitors would have liked to have tested Giuliani more than they managed to.

At the other end, the Azzurre nearly flaked their way in front. The increasingly versatile Oliviero delivered from the left and Arianna Caruso failed to meet it with her head, and the ball then ricocheted off the shoulder of substitute Cristiana Girelli and onto the crossbar.

The tempo slowed with changes ramping up. Girelli was joined by Annamaria Serturini from the bench, but injury soon forced her off again, before Agnese Bonfantini and Chiara Beccari were introduced as well. 

Michela Cambiaghi was the final change, coming on for the last five of the 90 to replace Manuela Giugliano, and the system changed again to something of a 4-2-4 with the Inter forward joining Girelli in attack. 

But it was the visitors who had the ball for the most part from then on, giving Cambiaghi little chance to get herself into the game, and even Beccari's biggest impact was felt defensive as she darted back to lend a hand in taming the Swedes.

Next up for the Azzurre is a trip to Swansea to take on Wales on Tuesday, 3 June.