Athletic Club 4 – Espanyol 1

Athletic Club: Ainhoa, Itsaso (min. 46, Orueta), J. Flaviano, Nekane (min. 75, Beristain), Tzibi J., Iraia, Olabarrieta (min. 67, Manu), Ibarra (min. 86, Gangoiti), Erika, Guru and Irene.

Espanyol: Mariajo, Lianne, Willy, Sonia, Mary Paz, Vane, Monforte, Debora (min. 79, Joanna), Meseguer (min. 79, Sara Serna), Lara (min. 69, Brena) and Carla.

Referee: Zubiaur de Velasco, with Sanz and Castarroyo assisting. Athletic players Ainhoa and Olabarrieta were booked with yellows, whereas for Espanyol Willy, Monforte, Vane and Lara were also booked.

Goals: 1-0. Min.1, Nekane; 1-1. Min. 30, Vane, from a penalty; 2-1. Min. 50, Nekane; 3-1. Min-. 66, Olabarrieta; 4-1. Min. 85, Beristain.

Incidences: 1.000 spectators in Lezama.

Athletic defeated Espanyol in a well-disputed match and though the first half ended in a 1-1 tie, the rojiblancas overtook their rival in a second half full of goal occasions. Nekane scored the first goal in the first minute of the game. The visitors equalized in the 30th from a penalty; and in the second half, another goal by Nekane, Olabarrieta and Beristain would seal a necessary victory to remain the highest on the table and as a prelude to a week in which the rojiblancas will travel to Cantabria on Wednesday and receive the team from Huelva on Sunday.

Juan Luis Fuentes’ Athletic goes in search of a victory right from the starting whistle. Against Espanyol, the same that occurred in the match against Atlético Madrid a week before repeated itself: first play in the game and goal. On this occasion it was Nekane and Erika that elaborated the play down the left flank, with shot on goal by Nekane, to the bottom Mariajo’s goal.
The match was quite exciting for spectators since both teams demonstrated their quality on the fast playing field of Lezama. There was a lot of pressure and few goal occasions. In the minute 25, Itsaso tried to increase the rojiblanca’s advantage with a shot from outside the area which the goalie from Espanyol had to make two attempts for the save.

Espanyol was able to equalize the match thanks to a penalty called by the referee in the rojiblanca area; Ainhoa went for Mary Paz’ feet and the referee indicated the eleven meters then Vane took the penalty kick to achieve the draw.

In the second half the rojiblanco team was far more superior. When Orueta came into play the midfield this gave more control to the local’s midfield and dangerous plays shortly became more frequent. In the 50th minute, Flaviano took a shot from outside the area and the ball, after a defence deflected, arrived to Nekane who dribbled past two opponents and overtook Mariajo down low.

Five minutes later it was Olabarrieta who made a terrific play, but the rojiblanca forwards didn’t take advantage of the back pass. However, the rojiblanca midfielder brought tranquillity to the scoreboard in a later play by Erika and Nekane, who centred the ball to the front and with a low strike scored the third. With five minutes to go, Erika centred into the area and Beristain tapped her foot along with a Catalan defender and the ball slipped into the visitor’s goal.

The rojiblancas had yet another two clear goal occasions to increase their advantage, but Manu was off target in two plays when she was all alone before Espanyol’s goalkeeper.

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Athletic Club presented the following starting line-up against RCD Espanyol: Ainhoa, Itsaso, J. Flaviano, Nekane, Tzibi J., Iraia, Olabarrieta, Ibarra, Erika, Guru and Irene. On the bench will be Andere, Arranz, Orueta, Manu, Gangoiti, Paula and Beristain.

Playing for Espanyol will be Mariajo, Lianne, Willy, Sonia, Mary Paz, Vane, Monforte, Debora, Meseguer, Lara and Carla. On the bench will be Alba, Joanna, Pereira, Sara Serna and Brena.

Refereeing will be Zubiaur de Velasco, with Sanz and Castarroyo assisting

12:02. Match Kicks Off

(1′) 1-0: GOOOAL! Play between Erika and Nekane who scores the goal
(21′) Lara booked with yellow
(29′) Penalty in Espanyol’s favour and Ainhoa booked with yellow
(30′) 1-1. Vane scores the penalty
(37′) Olabarrieta booked with yellow
(44′) Monforte booked with yellow

BREAK

13:05. Second half kicks off

(46′) Substitution: Orueta in for Itsaso
(50′) 2-1: GOOOAL! Rebound from a defence which Nekane picks up for the score after overtaking two opponents
(55′) Willy booked with yellow
(65′) 3-1: GOOOAL! Olabarrieta, from the centre scores with a low kick
(67′) Substitution: Manu in for Olabarrieta
(68′) Vane booked with yellow
(69′) Substitution: Brena in for Lara
(75′) Substitution: Beristain in for Nekane
(79′) Substitutions: Joanna and Sara Serna in for Debora and Meseguer
(85′) 4-1: GOOOAL! Centre by Erika and Beristain scores the goal with the assistance of a defence
(86′) Substitution: Gangoiti in for Ibarra

FINAL