Athletic Club - UD Tenerife

A win like this was long overdue. Athletic Club Women beat UDG Tenerife 2-1 in their penultimate home game of the season. It was a very entertaining match and Iraia Iturregi’s side deserved to take all three points against a team who are in remarkable form and fighting for a spot in next season’s Champions League.

A well-earned victory for a team that was back to its best on a morning in which Jennifer Zietz, our 2022 One-Club Woman, was applauded in Lezama for her outstanding career with Turbine Potsdam.

It was a lively first half as both teams came out to give their all and Athletic began by taking the lead. Erika Vázquez was the first to trouble Tenerife keeper Noelia Ramos, who soon realised she would have her work cut out.

Athletic striker Peke just missed the target on the stroke of half-time before finding the back of the net after taking advantage of a some good work by Ane Azkona.

After the break, The Lionesses came out looking just as dangerous. An Athletic counter-attack ended with Lucía García sending the ball into the back of the net. With the score at 2-0, on a pleasant morning in Lezama, Azkona received a round of applause after hitting crossbar.

Tenerfie ringed the changes as they attempted to find a way back into the match. Athletic keeper Quiñones made a fantastic save in the 64th minute to maintain the Lionesses’ two.-goal lead.

In the final stretch, the Tenerife team put a little more pressure on the Lionesses. But the Athletic defence went all out to get a win and keep a clean sheet.

However, UDG Tenerife’s persistence paid off in the 87th minute when Jassina Blom fired past the Athletic keeper. With the lead now reduced, the Lionesses were forced to dig deep and hold on for the final few minutes, but they did just that.