Italian Women’s Cup: Chawinga & Ajara Combo Gives Inter An Edge Over Sampdoria

On Wednesday Jan. 27, Inter Milan faced Sampdoria in the quarter-final first leg of the Italian women’s Cup. The Nerazzurri won via a 3-2 margin thanks to goals from Ajara, Chawinga and Bonetti.

The first segment started on a flat foot. After a period of observation between the two teams, the opener came at the 11th minute.

Malawian international Tabitha Chawinga rushed on the left and served Cameroon’s Nchout Ajara who, in a good position, side-footed for 1-0. Two minutes after, Inter came close to doubling their lead, again thanks to that Chawinga-Ajara duo. However, Ajara couldn’t hit target.

In the 16th minute, Inter increased tally. They Inter weren’t to be denied their second and it came in the 20th minute. Bonetti was creative from the edge of the “D” and found Ajara. Nchout Ajara served then served Chawinga first time and Inter doubled their lead.

In the 36th minute, Merlo galloped on the left and placed a perfectly timed ball in the center where Bonetti was lurking and she put it away for 3-0. Just like that, the game was won and lost in the first half.

The home side pulled one back in the 64th minute. From a corner, the ball was flicked on by Samp and then converted by center half Elena Pisani for 3-1.

The game then stalled, with very few chances either way, until when Bianca Fallico scored in borrowed time (90+1). It ended 3-2 for Inter with the second leg to decide who qualifies to the final. The reversed fixture comes up on February 7th on at the Suning Training Center.