Roma Women Rally Late, Seize Comeback Win at Milan to Ignite Early Serie A Title Race

At Centro Sportivo Peppino Vismara, as Milan’s golden October sun dipped behind the stands, Roma’s women staged a stunning late turnaround, delivering a 2-1 victory over AC Milan that may reverberate well beyond this young Serie A campaign.

This was a match rich in subtext—a meeting of two sides locked on four points, both carrying the ambitions and anxieties of teams determined to keep pace with leaders in a season that has already shown its volatility. For 76 minutes, Milan’s resolute defense and measured possession put them on track for a defining early victory. But when it mattered most, Roma’s resilience—and the composure of Alice Corelli and Manuela Giugliano—silenced the home crowd and reset the narrative for both sides.

Milan Seize Initiative, But Roma’s Patience Prevails

Milan’s early control was precise rather than spectacular, with play anchored by a midfield trio keen to dictate tempo and limit Roma’s creative outlets. The hosts probed down the flanks, stretching Roma’s back line but rarely exposing it. The defining action of the opening hour, instead, was a series of tactical sparring matches: Roma’s Valentina Giacinti—once a Rossonere icon herself—dropped deep, searching for pockets between Milan’s lines, while Giugliano orchestrated Roma’s rhythm from deep.

For long stretches, clear chances were scarce. Both sides looked wary of overcommitting, mindful both of their parity in the table and each other’s recent volatility—Milan, fresh off a late escape at Genoa; Roma, licking wounds from a humbling 6-2 Champions League defeat at Real Madrid only days prior.

But with 14 minutes to play, Milan finally breached the deadlock. A sweeping move down the right flank was capped by a crisp finish in the 76th minute—a rare lapse in Roma’s marking punished with clinical efficiency. The scorer, lost in Roma’s static line, set off in celebration, the breakthrough seeming to validate Milan’s disciplined approach.

A Dramatic Turn: Corelli and Giugliano Seal Roma’s Resurrection

Yet Roma’s response was immediate and emphatic. Just seven minutes after falling behind, Alice Corelli, already a standout in the early campaign, pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the area. Her low drive in the 83rd minute eluded Milan’s goalkeeper, the celebration a catharsis for a player and team seeking redemption after European disappointment.

The equalizer tilted momentum—and with full time approaching, Roma pushed for a winner with renewed ferocity. Milan’s earlier composure eroded under pressure, spaces opening in a back line suddenly vulnerable. The decisive blow came as stoppage time beckoned: Manuela Giugliano, Roma’s metronome and leader, found herself with just enough space to curl a brilliant shot past the Milan keeper in the 90th minute. It was Giugliano’s second league strike of the young season and a fitting reward for a performance of vision and authority.

The final whistle triggered wild celebrations in the visitors’ technical area—and left Milan’s players floored, the sting of a squandered lead clear on every face.

Implications for the Standings and the Shifting Balance of Power

With this result, Roma move to seven points from three games, leapfrogging Milan and staking an early claim as title contenders. For Milan, the defeat is a sobering check after an unbeaten start, their total stalling at four points, now with a first blemish in the campaign.

Both clubs have been circling each other in recent head-to-heads, increasingly shaping the top tier of Italian women’s football. Today’s dramatic reversal not only gives Roma the psychological edge but also underscores the fine margins that will define this year’s championship race.

What Lies Ahead

For AC Milan, the challenge now is twofold: recover the confidence shaken by a late collapse, and reignite their offense ahead of a bruising autumn stretch likely to test both depth and resolve. The promise shown in Genoa and for much of today’s match remains, but so does the bitter lesson—no lead is safe, not against the league’s best.

Roma, meanwhile, will draw immense belief from this comeback. After the chastening in Madrid, the message is clear: this side has the character to match its attacking firepower. Giugliano’s late heroics could become a defining motif in a season where those who finish strongest may ultimately prevail.

As the Serie A Women’s table takes early shape, today’s showdown in Milan offered a reminder of the drama and unpredictability that will define this campaign. If this afternoon’s late fireworks are any indication, neither Roma nor Milan will surrender their ambitions lightly—and for the league’s rising audience, that may be the most tantalizing promise of all.