News
SUN 09.10.2016
Betis finally claimed their maiden triumph of the Liga Iberdrola season with the most thrilling of victories, as the Andalusians staged a stunning second-half comeback to take all three points at the Karla Lekuona stadium.
The game couldn't have got off to a better start for the Basques, who took the lead with their first sight of goal when Joana Arranz met a corner to edge the hosts ahead. The Sevillians then squandered several fine chances to have restored parity, as Oiartzun went in a goal to the good at the interval.
The second half turned out to be an all together different affair. Despite Rosa Marquez, better known as Rosita, proving to be a constant thorn in the hosts' backline, it was Miriam Rodriguez Gonzalez (Kuki) who drew Betis level when she fired home a cross from the right. The scores were level and it was a case of as you were at kick-off for both sides.
Paula Moreno then put Betis into the ascendancy when she dispossessed Oihane Aldai in the Oiartzun goal and was left with the simplest of tasks of stroking the ball into an empty net. Instead of sitting on their lead, the Andalusians poured forward in search of further goals and the visitors' third duly came on 69 minutes through Irene Guerrero.
The hosts hit back courtesy of a Marina Agoues strike to set up a pulsating finale, but Betis ultimately held firm to register their first win of the campaign.
Granadilla Egatesa 2-1 RCD Espanyol
The Tenerife-based outfit recorded a vital win to move into 7th in a meeting between sides who this season harbour aspirations at the top end of the table. This hard-earned victory sees Tony Ayala's side leapfrog Sporting Huelva and propel themselves into the Copa de la Reina spots.
It was Espanyol who got their noses in front when, with 19 minutes on the clock, Paloma Fernandez struck to put the Catalans into the ascendancy. However, the Pericas joy was short-lived, as Granadilla levelled matters just five minutes later after some superb link-up play between Eva Llamas and Sara Gonzalez (Sara Tui) resulted in the former firing past Norma Mendez (Meru) to level matters at the Hoya del Pozo stadium.
With the sides level pegging, neither managed to get on top as chances came and went at both ends. After the interval, the Islanders came out intent on claiming maximum points and their improved tempo reaped its rewards when Luana Spindler slotted home what proved to be the winner.
Atletico Madrid 4-1 Sporting Huelva
The Rojiblancas cruised to victory to keep up the pressure on the early-season pace-setters, as they continue their impressive start to the campaign. On this occasion it was the previously unbeaten Huelva who were put to the sword.
Whilst work on Atletico's home ground meant that the game had to be switched to the Polideportivo Santa Ana, some things just don't change with this Atletico side, for whom Sonia Bermudez (Soni) was once again amongst the goals. The Atleti forward has an insatiable scoring appetite and was at the double here to bring her tally for the season to nine.
Atletico struggled to break the deadlock, but their constant probing was rewarded when Priscila Borja finally make the breakthrough on 41 minutes.
With the second half barely underway, Sporting drew themselves level through Jennifer Benitez (Jenni). Atletico's Soni struck her first of the game to restore her side's lead and she was on the mark again just five minutes later with a sumptuous chipped effort. The scoring was rounded off by skipper, Amanda Sampedro as Atletico retain their unbeaten start after registering four wins and a draw.
Real Sociedad 2-0 Rayo Vallecano
Igor San Miguel's troops secured their first victory of the season with a home win over Rayo. Coming into this game, La Real had failed to taste victory and were yet to find the back of the net so far this term. The San Sebastian outfit set both records straight here against the Madrilenians
With five minutes on the clock,Nahikari Garcia (Nahikari) opened her side's goalscoring account for the season to put the hosts 1-0 up. Just seven minutes later, the Basques came a whisker away from doubling their advantage when Rocio Zafra's headed effort crashed back off the woodwork. The hosts were in control and Rayo were forced to rely on counter-attacks as they sought to claw their way back into the game.
The Basques went in 1-0 up at the break and Rayo came out at the start of the second period intent on finding an equaliser, which ultimately failed to materialise. With 15 minutes remaining, Nahikari and Itaxaso Uriate combined for the latter to make it 2-0 and seal La Real's first win of the Liga Iberdrola campaign. As for Rayo, the Madrid side are yet to put any points on the board and remain rooted to the foot of the table.
Levante have grand designs and continue to show as much with every passing matchday. The Granotes are still unbeaten and this latest result took them to four wins and one draw for the season.
Andres Tudela's charges were made to work hard to get the better of Albacete, who set out their stall well and gave as good as they got in the early stages. Just three minutes after the half-hour mark, Charlyn Corral fired the hosts in front from 25 yards, but the visitors stuck to their task and managed to restore parity through Alba Redondo right after the restart.
After seeing their lead disappear, Levante stepped it up again and both Charlyn and Maria de Alharilla spurned opportunities to restore their advantage. The hosts eventually got their reward for their perseverance in the 81st minute when Alharilla converted from a Maria Jose Perez cross, clinching three points for her side.
Cristian Toro's team returned to winning ways, although their profligacy meant they were nowhere near as comfortable as they should have been. Debora Garcia and Mari Paz Vilas both missed chances in the opening exchanges and in the end Valencia had to wait until the 38th minute to get the upper hand courtesy of Mari Paz's header, her seventh goal of the season.
The second period was a carbon copy of the first, only the ball wouldn't hit the net again. Las Che all but laid siege to the Tacuense goal, but it was to no avail, so the most notable event of the half was when Chile international Yanara Aedo came on for her Valencia debut in the 59th minute.
Valencia's fourth victory of the campaign kept them flying high in the upper echelons of the table, while newly promoted Tacuense remain winless.
Santa Teresa CD 1-2 Athletic Club
Athletic headed to Badajoz on a high after beating Fortuna Hjorring in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-32 tie at San Mames. They were seemingly guilty of having one eye on Thursday's return match at the beginning of this encounter – indeed, Joseba Agirre started both Yulema Corres and Erika Vazquez on the bench – and duly found themselves playing catch-up.
Just 11 minutes were on the clock when Maria de los Angeles Martin (Chica) put the hosts in the ascendancy as Athletic laboured, either distracted or jaded by their European exertions. Santa Teresa were well worthy of their half-time lead.
Agirre was forced to summon the cavalry and Yulema, introduced after the interval, wasted no time in making her presence felt, trying her luck from outside the box in the 65th minute. In the very next attack, Lucia Garcia brought the league champions level with a header that goalkeeper Emmeline Mainguy just failed to claw out.
Buoyed by getting back on terms, Athletic took the game by the scruff of the neck and the appropriately named Nekane Diaz completed the turnaround, latching on to a through ball from Erika – who was also thrown on as a sub – and rifling into the net. Though Santa Teresa kept going to the end, an equaliser proved elusive.
Just like Athletic, Barça also displayed signs of wear and tear after their midweek Champions League exploits – Xavi Llorens's side were impressive 3-0 winners in Minsk – but, just like the Basques, the Catalans' class eventually shone through and they claimed a convincing victory.
Zaragoza raised a few eyebrows by lining up with three at the back at the Miniestadi, but the approach almost paid dividends. Alberto Berna's troops proved difficult to break down and Patricia Larque was in commanding form between the sticks to keep the hosts at bay.
It took an 81st-minute penalty to open the floodgates. The referee blew up for a foul on Patri Guijarro and Jenni Hermoso, cool as a cucumber, dispatched from the spot. That knocked the wind out of the away team's sails and Alexia Putellas promptly made it 2-0 with a chipped finish. The two goalscorers combined to add further gloss to the scoreline in the 90th minute, with Alexia teeing up Jenni to seal Barcelona's fifth consecutive win and keep the Azulgranas out alone at the top of the Liga Iberdrola table for another week.
© LALIGA - 2016