Athletic impress against Levante Las Planas

Athletic impress against Levante Las Planas

The Lionesses win 2-0 against a well-drilled side who were down to ten players for most of the second half

Iraia Iturregi marked her two-year anniversary in charge of Athletic Club Women with a win in their first match of 2023.

The Lionesses won 2-0 against a tough Levante Las Planas side that were a player down for most of the second half. Goals from Paula Arana and Clara Pinedo were enough to secure the three points and make sure Athletic are feeling good as they go into Thursday's Copa tie against Madrid CFF.

Jone Amezaga let the visitors know what they were in for very early on. By time the ten-minute mark was up, the 18-year-old forward had threatened on three ocassions.

Athletic controlled the game, kept possession and dealt well with Levante Las Planas' attempts to counter attack. In the 27th minute Pinedo went close to giving Athletic the lead, but Levante's keeper Bacic denied her.

The visitors' best chance in the first half came via striker Irina Uribe, but her shot went high.

Early on in the second half, the referee sent off Las Planas' Gantxegi after she received a second yellow card. Iturregi's side took the lead in the 62nd minute, Paula Arana taking advantage of a Sara Ortega delivery to beat Bacic.

Despite the lead, Athletic experienced a few minutes of uncertainty, with Levante Las Planas almost scoring an equaliser.

In the 76th minute, Amezaga, always on the lookout for a goal, thought she had Athletic's second, but Bacic got a hand to the forward's shot. 

In one of the few times she was called into action, Mariasun Quiñones denied Julve after a driving run by the Las Planas player.

In stoppage time, Pinedo, who has now scored four goals this season, got on the end of a goalmouth scramble in which Peke hit the post. Eunate almost made it three but Bacic saved from close range.

Now it's time for the Lionesses to focus on their upcoming Copa match against Madrid CFF, the same team that beat them at Lezama just a month ago.