Fiorentina Femminile beat Milan 3-1 away from home in their season opener on Sunday, as Patrizia Panico's side got their league campaign off to the best possible start, thanks to a blistering first-half display.

The opening goal came courtesy of Milica Mijatović, on her first Serie A appearance for the Viola. With only four minutes on the clock, she brought the ball into the area before cutting onto her left foot and finding room to fire past Laura Giuliani.

It only took 12 minutes for the visitors to double their advantage. The Milan rear-guard failed to clear Michela Catena's low cross, allowing Zsanette Kajan – another debutant – to steal in and stroke in a second. The Hungarian then bagged her second and Fiorentina's third in first-half stoppage time, pouncing on an ill-fated back-pass, before showing good composure to take the ball round Giuliani and slot into an empty net.   

After the break Kosovare Asllani reduced the arrears for the home team, finishing off a tidy team move to make it 1-3, but Fiorentina remained in firm control to earn themselves all three points.

Speaking after the contest, coach Panico said: "We turned in an excellent performance – I am very satisfied. After last season we could really start from scratch and I have to thank the club for helping me take on that tough task, with their help in the transfer market and elsewhere.

"The club is the real star of this game – I want to thank the hierarchy for putting us in the best possible state to get this league season off to the best possible start."

Meanwhile Kajan, sharing her thoughts after a dream debut, said: "I am very happy with the win and these three points. We have worked hard over the last six weeks for this game. We knew it would be tough and we all gave 100%. We came under pressure in certain moments, but this is football. We created many chances and made the most of them. Milan opened up towards the end and put the pressure on, but we held out.

"I hope that we'll have lots of fans at our first home game of the campaign – that 12th man means a lot to us. However, we have to work hard on our weaknesses and hone our strengths. The league season is very long, and we cannot relax."

AC Milan 1-3 Fiorentina (HT 0-3)
Scorers: Mijatovic 4, Kajan 16, 47, Asllani 61)

AC MILAN: Giuliani; Mesjasz, Guagni (Arnadotttir 57), Fusetti, Soffia (Thrige 54), Mascarello (Rubio 73), Dubcova, Bergamaschi (Cimini 54) Thomas, Piemonte, Asllani.
Subs not used: Carage, Vigilucci, M.Dubcova, Babb.
Coach: Maurizio Ganz.

ACF FIORENTINA: Schroffenegger, Tortelli (C), Agard, Erzen, Jackmon, Parisi, Huchet, Boquete (Monnecchi 86), Catena (Johannsdottir 81), Mijatovic (Mijatovic 72), Kajan (Sabatino 86).
Subs not used: Menta, Breitner, Longo, Giacobbo.  
Coach: Patrizia Panico.

Photogallery.