Athletic Club - Levante UD

Athletic Club Women lost 2-3 against Levante UD at Lezama. The Primera Iberdrola Matchday 9 fixture was very exciting from start to finish.

The Lionesses led 2-1 at the interval, but the Valencians were the better side in the second half and took all three points at Lezama.

Garazi Murua, who scored a penalty in the first half, was unable to repeat the feat in stoppage time. With the game in the dying minutes, the captain had the opportunity to equalise with a penalty, but her effort was stopped by Andrea Paraluta.

The first half went according to plan: with intensity and a lot of pace. Just after the start, Lucia Garcia got her first goal of the season, Ane Azkona slicing here way through the Levante defence before squaring it for Lucia to tuck away.

Athletic could have scored the second through Peke, but the striker’s attempt was saved. The Granotas’ reaction was not long in coming. In the 11th minute, Gio took advantage of a rebound to beat Quiñones with a low shot.

In the 26th minute, the referee awarded Athletic a penalty after Nuria Mendoza handballed inside the area. Garazi converted from the spot to put the home side 2-1 up.

After the break, the visitors had a great chance to equalise, but Toletti’s shot went just wide. Around the hour mark, Levante began to take control of the encounter, while Athletic tried to hit them with counter-attacks.

In the 69th minute, Leire Baños made it 2-2 after finishing off a good attacking move. Shortly afterwards, Levante almost made it 2-3  through Guerrero.

The match had an intense and frenetic ending. In the 84th minute, Valdezate received a straight red card after cutting off a Levante counter-attack.

In the free kick that followed, Toletti sealed Levante’s comeback with a free-kick that went in off the post. Athletic had one final chance to take at least a point, when they were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.

However this time Paraluta saved Garazi’s spot-kick and the Lionesses went home empty-handed. A defeat for Athletic, who will play against Rayo Vallecano in Madrid next Sunday.