Jennifer Echegini completed her brace – her first in black and white – within the first 14 minutes on February 14 to help Juventus secure a crucial 2-0 Derby d’Italia victory over hosts Inter Milan at the Arena Civica Gianni Brera.
MVP
The Nigerian international is proving to be one of the best signings of this year’s January transfer window in the Women’s Serie A, having scored four goals in six matches since making her debut on January 13, and being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice, including for this match against Inter.
“It feels amazing (to score my first brace for the club). I mean, the team played amazing and I’m really excited for the next game,” Echegini said after the match.
She added: “One of the better aspects of my game is the ability to score, so I always have confidence in front of goal and that’s why I try to find myself in front of goal. So, you know, you’ve got to just go for it and see what happens.”
THE BRACE
An opening goal in the 7th minute meant a perfect start for Juventus, who in the reverse fixture against Inter enjoyed an emphatic 5-0 victory in front of their home fans last November. Maëlle Garbino whipped in a brilliant cross from the left which Echegini headed home.
The second goal came seven minutes later in similar fashion as another Garbino cross found an onrushing Echegini who made no mistake to tap the ball in.
The Bianconere were in control of the match as the hosts struggled to keep hold of the ball, especially in the first half. The Nerazzurre improved in the second half but their efforts to initiate a comeback were futile.
Following Fiorentina’s victory earlier in the day, Juventus needed a win to reclaim second place in the league table and Echegini’s brace secured the much-needed three points.
CRUCIAL GOALS
Echegini has now scored four goals from five shots at goal in six league appearances for Juventus. Her first goal, which she scored 11 minutes after coming on, secured a late 1-0 victory over Sassuolo. She was again a super substitute in the match against Fiorentina where after being introduced in the 70th minute she scored four minutes later to salvage a 2-2 draw.
Juventus announced the signing of the 22-year-old on January 4, 2024 following her impressive spell in the United States with the Florida State Seminoles in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). She ended 2023 with 16 goals to her name – which was the eighth-highest tally in the history of her university – and scooped several awards for her performance.
In December 2023 she won the Honda Sport Award for women’s football, the Most Valuable Player of the ACC Tournament, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, and was named to the First Team All-American. In January 2024, she received the MAC Hermann Trophy, the most prestigious award in US university football, as the nation’s best collegiate football player. Her contract with the Bianconere is until June 30, 2026.
Born to Nigerian parents in the Netherlands and raised in England, Echegini got her first national team call-up in March 2022 and was a part of the Nigeria squad for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
LAST MATCHDAY OF REGULAR SEASON
The last matchday of the regular season this weekend will see Juventus host bottom-placed Napoli while fourth-placed Inter Milan will be the guests of their city rivals sixth-placed AC Milan at the Puma House of Football.
Credit: AIPS Media
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