Athletic Club Women smash Villarreal

Athletic Club Women smash Villarreal

The youngest players opened the scoreboard while Oihane, Peke and Nekane finished off the job in a 1-6 victory

Athletic Club Women defeated Villarreal CF 1-6 on Saturday evening. Seventeen-year-old Jone Amezaga got on the scoresheet again and the Lionesses were a whirlwind from the midfield onwards.

Iraia Iturregi struggled early on. Although Villarreal did not have any clear chances, Athletic struggled in possession under the hosts' high press.

Despite the situation, in the 25th minute Pinedo pounced on a slip by Villarreal captain Lara Mata before putting Athletic 0-1 up with a brilliant finish. The goal calmed the nerves and Las Rojiblancas grew from here.

Pinedo went close to making it 0-2 after some good work by Amezaga. In the end, it was the youngster who doubled Athletic's lead, using her pace to beat goalkeeper De Toro to the ball and receiving a bit of good luck when her shot rebounded of the post and hit the keeper's back before crossing the white line.

Things got off to a lively start in the second half. Belén Martínez pulled one back for the home side with a powerful long-range shot with 53 minutes on the clock.

The Lionesses responded superbly. Oihane Hernández ran the length of the pitch on the counter from a Villarreal corner before hitting the back of the net. Just before the hour mark, Amezaga got her second of the match before being substituted,

Athletic did not stop there. With quarter of an hour to go, Peke struck to make it 1-5 before Nekane got her first of the season in the 81st minute.

The perfect way to bounce back from the derby defeat at San Mamés last week. Now Las Leonas will turn their attention to Saturday's match against Madrid CFF at Lezama (16:00 CET).