News
SUN 11.09.2016
T.Alcaine ZGZ 2-2 Atletico Madrid
A year ago, T. Alcaine kicked off the Liga Iberdrola campaign with three wins on the spin to soar out in front at the top of the table. They have made a more muted start this term, but have nevertheless given off the impression that they have enough about them to at the very least target Copa de la Reina qualification.
After losing in Valencia, they collected their first point of the season by pegging back Atletico Madrid. Indeed, they had the Rojiblancas on the ropes early on, taking the lead, and then did not let their heads drop after the visitors turned things around, mounting a response of their own to salvage a point.
There was no quarter given throughout the 90 minutes, with both sides displaying fighting spirit, commitment and effort in abundance. T. Alcaine captain Nuria Mallada returned to the starting lineup with a vengeance, putting away her first chance from a great Minori Chiba cross to hand the hosts the advantage with just 10 minutes gone. The home side's other star turn was goalkeeper Patri Larque, who produced a string of excellent saves, even denying Sonia Bermudez – who was kept quiet for long stretches – from the penalty spot.
For a while it appeared that Patri would be equal to everything thrown at her, but she was powerless to prevent Esther equalising with a sweetly struck chipped finish from the edge of the box. It looked for all the world like the hosts would hold out amid the Atletico onslaught and go into half-time at 1-1, only for their resistance to be broken again by some lightning link-up play involving Silvia Meseguer (Mesi), Bermudez (Soni) and Amanda Sampedro. Mesi launched the ball into space, Soni ran on to it and slid across a pass, and Sampedro drilled home emphatically from just inside the area.
The second half was an end-to-end affair, although the visitors had by far the better chances and their goalkeeper Lola Gallardo was largely a spectator. Up until Mallada popped up to make her presence felt again around the hour mark, that is, the forward winning a penalty that Teresa Rey converted to ensure that both sides went away with a share of the spoils ahead of the international break.
The first 20 minutes belonged entirely to Rayo, but Levante weathered the storm and captured all three points courtesy of Maria Jose Perez's second-half double.
Conscious of the importance of picking up points at home, the home team started strongly and almost got their noses in front when Raquel Carreño went agonisingly close to scoring direct from a corner, only for the ball to strike the upright. Just a few minutes later and Rayo rattled the woodwork again. Then, in the 29th minute, Cristina Aunon was guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance, dragging her finish just wide when one-on-one with Noelia Bermudez.
Barely believing their luck at being on level terms at the interval, Levante woke up with a bang in the second half, with Charlyn Corral and Maria Jose getting down to business. Maria Jose opened the scoring on 52 minutes, lifting the ball home over onrushing goalkeeper Ana Valles.
A quarter of an hour into the second half, it was 2-0. Latching on to Bermudez's hopeful punt forward, Charlyn gathered possession, turned and released Maria Jose up the right. The attacker did the rest, steadying herself and positively walloping a strike across goal and into the net via the post.
No more goals were to be had as Rayo succumbed to their second defeat, while Levante notched their maiden Liga Iberdrola victory thanks in no small part to Maria Jose's magic.
Sporting Huelva 1-1 Athletic Club
This was another result that could be termed a 'shock', although this season – the most evenly matched in memory for fans of the women's top flight – we are quickly learning to expect the unexpected. Either way, the fact is that the reigning champions were frustrated by a Huelva team who ended last term in eighth.
Having threatened in the 18th minute, when she clattered the woodwork following a goalmouth scramble, Yulema Corres was the one to put Athletic ahead on 35', making no mistake on the follow-up from a Thais save. The visitors then safely saw out the first half and went into the dressing rooms a goal to the good.
When the second period got underway, it was clear that the hosts were hell-bent on finding an equaliser. They did just that in the 57th minute when Anita Hernandez converted a penalty. Indeed, Huelva could have even snatched a victory in the latter stages, with Jenny Benitez's effort whistling just wide, skimming the outside of the post on its way.
Ultimately it was to be honours even as Huelva celebrated a hard-earned point against illustrious opponents, while Athletic were served a timely reminder that retaining their crown is not going to be easy.
Real Sociedad 0-0 Granadilla Egatesa
Real Sociedad and Granadilla Egatesa were two of the most impressive sides last year. Igor San Miguel's charges finished fourth in their best campaign in recent years, while Tony Ayala's troops achieved a sixth-placed finish in their debut season in the Liga Iberdrola. Luana Spindler was the standout performer when the two teams met at Zubieta, with the Brazilian having the best chances to open the scoring, although the first half ended goalless. Patri Gavira came close to breaking the deadlock after the break, but her shot rebounded off the crossbar for the visitors. Naiara Beristain had the clearest-cut opportunity for the hosts, but her effort went over, and the contest ended all square. Las Blanquiazules picked up another draw and are yet to break their goalscoring duck for the season. There was some good news in the shape of Nahikari Garcia's return to action, with her absence a likely explanation for the club's lack of goals so far. Granadilla, meanwhile, racked up their first point after losing on the opening day against Barcelona.
Milagros Martinez (Mila) is one of only two female coaches in the Liga Iberdrola, alongside Maria Pry at Betis. Towards the end of last season, the coach decided to employ five defenders in her lineup and the captain's armband was rotated around the squad. Mila's tendency to chop and change was on display once again when she had no qualms about making a triple substitution at the start of the second half against Oiartzun, as Carla Bautista, Sofia Botija and Macarena Portales were replaced by Miriam Perez, Marisa Martin and Alba Redondo, with the scoreline still goalless.
Redondo latched on to a great pass by Maria Arranz in the 67th minute to open the scoring, before Alba Ferrer sealed the win with the second goal in the 80th minute. Mila got it right and Albacete clinched the three points in what was their first victory of the season. Oiartzun, meanwhile, remain winless after drawing their opening game against Espanyol.
Two newly promoted sides went face to face, as Tacuense played host to Betis, in a battle between two clubs looking to recover from losing their first Liga Iberdrola fixtures. Neither team managed to take control of the game or offer any meaningful goal threat, with most of the action played out in the midfield third. The competition's top goalscorer from the opening weekend, Paula Moreno, was unable to add to her tally, while Tacuense failed to muster their first goal of the season. The good news for both outfits was a welcome first point of the new Liga Iberdrola campaign.
This is a different Valencia that are showing real consistency. Cristian Toro's troops ran out 5-0 winners against T. Alcaine on the opening day and followed it up with a 2-0 win away to Espanyol, taking them up to seven goals scored, zero conceded and joint top. Mari Paz kept doing what she does best which is scoring goals. She converted a penalty for the visitors in the 38th minute for her fourth strike of the campaign, before Marianela Szymanowski bagged the second in the early stages of the second half with a powerful effort from outside the box. Valencia continued to apply pressure, but there would be no more goals. The home side rallied in a bid to get back into the contest on the counter-attack, but it was to no avail. Las Che racked up another comfortable victory to remain in pole position in the Liga Iberdrola.
FC Barcelona 6-0 Santa Teresa CD
Barcelona took to the pitch knowing that joint leadership of the league was at stake. Only Valencia had managed to replicate their opening-day win meaning victory for Laz Azulgranas would give them a two-point advantage over Athletic and Atletico Madrid, their two closest rivals last season. The Catalan outfit made a fast start to the game and opened the scoring in the 15th minute with the first of six goals.
The contest showed that the trio of Alexia Putellas, Jenni Hermoso and Olga Garcia can play in harmony with Brazilian star Andressa Alves. Ange Koko made her debut, while Santa Teresa did spurn a couple of chances to register a consolation goal. Alexia, Marta Unzue, Jenni and Olga all got on the scoresheet before half-time, with Jenni and Unzue netting again after the break. The 6-0 whitewash means Barcelona sit atop the league table alongside Valencia with two wins from two ahead of the international break. Santa Teresa remain in a Copa de la Reina qualifying position thanks to their victory on the opening day.
© LALIGA - 2016