Chiba shines in UWCL win over Hammarby – Juventus
Biella was the setting as Remina Chiba delivered when it mattered most, firing a decisive double in extra time to lift Juventus Women to a 3-1 victory over Hammarby. The result advances the Italian side to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, after they claimed top honours in a compact mini-tournament.
First half
From the opening minutes, the visitors pressed high, forcing Juventus into back-ppedal defense and denying early chances. Svea Rehnberg went closest to breaking the deadlock for Hammarby, drawing a smart save from Danielle De Jong after a sharp surge inside the box. Juve slowly steadied the ship and began to impose their rhythm on the game.
Juventus mounted their first real threat shortly after the midway point of the half when Estela Carbonell forced a save from Bella Andersson after a testing strike. The balance shifted soon after, however, as Rehnberg again tested the Juve goal and, six minutes after the visitors’ opening attempt, found the net from close range to put Hammarby ahead.
The response from the home side was swift. Alba Redondo hunted an equaliser, but was denied by Andersson in a tight one-on-one, and Emma Stolen Godo then attempted with a header that skimmed wide. The goal finally arrived before the break when Redondo pounced on a loose ball in the box after sustained pressure and dispatched it past the keeper to restore parity.
As the half wound down, the Bianconere came close to taking the lead themselves. Tatiana Pinto delivered a curling cross that crashed against the crossbar in the 43rd minute, and Cecilia Salvai’s late set-piece effort forced a sharp stop from Andersson in stoppage time, leaving the score level at the interval.
Second half
Juventus returned for the second period with greater intensity, trying to press higher and test the Swedish defense. Annamaria Serturini curled a long-range attempt wide as the tempo remained brisk, and the game drifted toward a tightly contested finish.
As the minutes ticked by, Stolen Godo again threatened with a late header, just missing the target, while Remina Chiba’s burst of pace disrupted Hammarby’s rearguard and created moments for her teammates. Barbara Bonansea nearly nudged Juve ahead in the latter stages with a venomous shot that bounced off the post, keeping the tie within reach for the hosts.
In stoppage time, Carbonell found herself in a one-on-one situation but could not convert, leaving the full 90 minutes deadlocked at 1-1 and sending the match into extra time.
Extra time – Chiba’s decisive moments
The extra period began with Juventus clearly buoyed by the momentum from regulation time, and they didn’t have to wait long for a breakthrough. In the opening minutes of extra time, Remina Chiba broke free and unleashed a left-footed shot that found the back of the net, giving the hosts a 2-1 lead.
With the clock ticking toward the end of the first extra-half, Chiba added another important moment, meeting a cross from the left to seal qualification for Juve and extend their European campaign. The second half of extra time saw Juventus defend resolutely, denying Hammarby any clear chances and protecting their advantage as they saw out the win.
The final whistle confirmed a 3-1 victory for Juventus after extra time, a result that advances them to the next qualifying phase of the UWCL. Chiba’s brace in the extra period proved decisive, underscoring her impact in a tightly fought knockout contest.
In Biella, the win reinforced Juventus’ status as a competitive force in European women’s football, giving the club momentum as they head into the next round of qualification and pursue further success on the continental stage.
