Coppa Italia Femminile: Inter 1 - 1 Sassuolo

The first leg of the Coppa Italia quarter-final between Inter and Sassuolo ended in a 1-1 draw. At the Arena Civica in Milano, the Nerazzurre created a host of chances chances and after a first half that ended goalless, they took the lead in the 77th minute with a great goal by Elisa Polli. After six minutes, the Neroverdi's responded through Clelland, who scored to make it 1-1. It all comes down to the second leg, scheduled for Tuesday 28 January away at Sassuolo with kick-off at 18:00.

INTER-SASSUOLO 1-1 | TABELLINO

GOL: 77' Polli (I), 83' Clelland (S) INTER (4-3-1-2): 94 Baldi; 33 Bartoli, 24 Milinkovic, 17 Fördős, 14 Robustellini; 8 Pavan ('70 7 Bugeja), 4 Pedersen (60' 22 Schough), 10 Karchouni (60' 21 Tomaselli); 20 Detruyer; 31 Wullaert (81' 27 Csiszar), 36 Cambiaghi ('70 9 Polli). A disposizione: 1 Rúnarsdóttir, 5 Andrés, 6 Santi, 13 Merlo, 15 Serturini, 23 Magull, 25 Fadda. Coach: Gianpiero Piovani.

SASSUOLO (3-5-2): 1 Lonni, 20 Orsi, 5 Caiazzo, 4 Pleidrup; 24 De Rita, 14 Hagemann (76' 11 Fisher), 3 Mella (63' 8 Brustia), 12 Missipo, 2 Philtjens; 10 Chmielinski (81' 26 Clelland), 27 Monterubbiano (63' 13 Dhont) A disposizione: 16 Durand, 22 Di Nallo, 7 Adami, 9 Sabatino, 18 Gallazzi, 23 Fusini, 30 Perselli, 58 Girotto. Coach: Gian Loris Rossi.

Recupero: 0'-4'

Arbitro: Esposito Assistenti: Della Mea, Munitello Quarto Ufficiale: Spinelli

THE GAME

The first half was balanced and finished 0-0 but with several chances for the Nerazzurre, four at least fell the way of Cambiaghi, captain on the day. The first arrived immediately after just one minute played, with Pavan’s close-range finish that found the prompt response of Lonni. The Neroverdi’s goalkeeper came up trumps on several occasions and, in the fifth minute, blocked Cambiaghi's effort from distance. Sassuolo remained in wait and exploited the movements of the forwards on several occasions. On the quarter of an hour mark, the clearest chance for the visitors arrived from aa corner kick with Orsi's header parried by Baldi. Then again Inter were on the up. Cambiaghi, first with a muffed shot from outside the box, then a header from a Bartoli cross, wide. Then, again Pavan with another clear-cut chance, played in by Wullaert.

The second half commenced with Inter on the attack in search of the lead as they hit the post through Wullaert from Detruyer's brilliant pass. On the hour mark came the first substitutions, which changed the face of the match: Dhont, who replaced Monterubbiano, was immediately in the spotlight, first with a through ball for Chmielinski who finished high, then with a shot that went just wide. Even in the Nerazzurre the impact of the substitutes was strong enough to change the result: on 77 minutes Polli put Inter ahead. The number 9, found in the area by Tomaselli, escaped four opponents with a perfect control let fly with a powerful right-footed effort that rocketed past the goalkeeper. The match opened up and after six minutes Sassuolo equalised with another player who had come on in the middle of the game, Clelland, who got clear of Bartoli and beat Baldi to make it 1-1. Before the final whistle, Inter pressed for a late winner through Tomaselli, who finished high over the crossbar, and after four minutes of added time the match ended with 1-1, postponing the verdict to the return leg, set for Tuesday 28 January.

Draw at the Arena Civica in the first leg of the quarter-final: Polli scores for Inter before Clelland makes it 1-1. The tie will be decided in the second leg on 28 January