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Lucía García inspires much needed win for the Lionesses

Lucía García inspires much needed win for the Lionesses

Character, intensity and an impressive Lucía García performance see Athletic pick up three points

Athletic Club Women bring home all three points after defeating Rayo Vallecano 2-3 in their Primera Iberdrola Matchday 21 fixture. It’s a vital win for Iraia Iturregi’s side which gives them some breathing space in the table.

Forward Lucía García is the Lioness of the moment. Her brace in the first 15 minutes provided the perfect platform for victory. Although Athletic were made to work hard by Rayo Vallecano, Lucía scored a third in 53rd minute to keep the Rojiblancas out of sight.

Athletic came storming out of the gates. They suffocated the home team with intense pressing, dominating the opening minutes. With five minutes gone, Lucía offered an insight of what was to come, narrowly missing the target.

Her first goal of the afternoon came in the 11th minute after being set up by Yulema Corres. Lucía was back on the scoresheet five minutes later, Yulema once again at the heart of the action. The latter linked up with Moraza who played the final pass into Lucia.

Rayo were down but not out. Bulatovic pulled one back for the Madrid-based outfit in the 22nd minute. Corres could have put Athletic 1-3 up before the break. Thestriker tried to play in Lucia, but the move ended up with an Unzue shot which was turned away for a corner.

The Lionesses looked to extend their lead further after the break. And they did so just before the hour mark, Lucía bagging her hat-trick goal after getting on the end of a Yulema Corres cross from the left flank.

Shortly afterwards, Tere pulled one back for Rayo. With the score at 2-3, tension began to grow. Rayo’s Andújar was shown a second yellow card in the final stretch of the game and Iturregi brought on some fresh players.

In the final minutes, Rayo launched crosses into the box in search of an equaliser, but it was Athletic’s Ane Azkona who came close to hitting the crossbar.

Nonetheless, the lionesses kept at it together and came away with a well-deserved win.