Big guns win opening matches as Las Planas stun Betis: Liga F Week Two Round Up
Liga F kicked off with 16-year-old midfielder Vicky López making history after she became the youngest player to feature for Barcelona and another 17-year-old midfielder Jone Amezaga Martínez scoring on her Athletic Club debut with her first touch in the first minute.
Barcelona started their title defence with a hard fought 2-0 win against UDG Tenerife at the Estadi Johan Cruyff on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts had a frustrating first half after a defensive masterclass by the visitors who stood their ground despite several Barca attempts. To add to their frustrations, Barcelona lost midfielder Patri Guijarro to a head injury in the 11th minute and was replaced by forward Mariona Caldentely.
New signing Geyse Ferreira opened her Barcelona account in the 61st minute giving the hosts a deserved lead before attacker Caroline Graham Hansen doubled the hosts’ lead seven minutes later.
Elsewhere, Madrid CFF were 2-1 winners against Alavés at the Ciudad Deportiva José Luis Compañón on Saturday Afternoon.
Forward Lucía Pardo became the first player to score in the newly professionalised Liga F when she gave the visitors the lead after 33 minutes of play.
Forward Florencia Bonsegundo doubled Madrid CFF’s lead in the 82nd minute before defender Carla Morera pulled one back for Alavés in two minutes of second half added time having come on as a substitute in the 68th minute.
It was a welcome win for Madrid CFF after losing last season’s joint top goal scorer Geyse Ferreira to Barcelona.
Real Madrid started the campaign on a winning note beating visitors Valencia 2-0 at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano on Saturday.
The Madrid side got their breakthrough with five minutes left before half time when midfielder Teresa Abelleira struck to send the home fans into celebration.
Valencia returned a determined side and made several changes to add energy to the team but their resilience was finally broken when substitute forward Nahikari García doubled the home side’s lead on the stroke of full time.
The win was welcome for Real Madrid who face Rosenborg BK Kvinner away on Wednesday in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL).
Last season’s runners up Real Sociedad were 2-0 winners at home against Villarreal on Saturday.
The hosts opened the scoring in the sixth minute when forward Synne Jensen finished off fellow forward Nerea Eizagirre’s pass. Sociedad doubled their lead five minutes into the second half when Villarreal defender Lara Mata beat her own keeper and scored into her own net.
The result was a tonic ahead of their UWCL clash against Bayern Munich at the Reale Arena on Tuesday.
Atlético Madrid started their campaign on a winning note seeing off hosts Sevilla with a comfortable 3-1 victory at the Ramón Cisneros Palacios on Saturday.
Forward Rasheedat Ajibade gave the visitors the lead in the 34th minute converting a pass from fellow forward Ludmila.
The hosts came back a determined side in the second half and were duly rewarded in the 50th minute when midfielder Inma Gabarro headed home a pass from fellow midfielder Amanda Sampedro.
The joy did not last long for Sevilla as the visitors regained their lead six minutes later when Ludmila converted a pass from defender Ainhoa Vicente Moraza.
Ludmila capped her match-winning performance with her second goal of the day when she converted a pass from midfielder Leicy Santos to give the visitors a two-goal cushion with 20 minutes left.
The hosts were reduced to 10 women when defender Diana Gomes was shown a straight red card in the 73rd minute for fouling Ludmila after being set through on goal.
The match saw seven players make their debuts in the red and white.
Athletic Club shot to the top of the standings on the first day of the Liga F campaign after beating Sporting Huelva 3-0 at the Instalaciones de Lezama Campo 1 on Sunday.
The hosts took the lead in the first minute through 17-year-old midfielder Jone Amezaga Martínez who scored with her first touch of the ball on her debut. Eight minutes before half time forward Ainize Peke Barea doubled the hosts’ lead after converting a pass from midfielder Mariana Cerro.
On the stroke of half-time, midfielder Ane Azkona made it 3-0 to the hosts after converting a pass from defender Bibiane Schulze.
Levante survived a huge scare away to Alhama CF ElPozo after their narrow 3-2 win at the Campo de Fútbol José María Soriano Muñoz on Sunday.
Forward Alba Redondo gave the visitors the lead in the 16th minute before Alhama forward Jade Boho equalised five minutes before half-time after a cross from defender Carmen Fresneda.
Levante regained the lead in the 57thminute when forward Mayra Ramírez converted a pass from fellow forward Nataša Andonova.
The hosts equalised for the second time in the 68th minute when forward Sara Rubio struck the back of the net. Redondo guaranteed maximum points for the visitors when she scored four minutes into added time to send the away fans into song and dance.
Real Betis lost 2-1 at home to newly promoted Levante Las Planas in a match played at Ciudad Deportiva Luis de Sol on Sunday evening.
The hosts took the lead in the 29thminute when midfielder Angela Sosa converted a pass from defender Paula Perea.
The visitors equalised five minutes from half-time when forward Mari Paz Vilas converted from the spot against her former team. The visitors played with purpose after the equaliser and were duly rewarded in the 75th minute when Mari Paz converted a pass from forward Alba Mellado to hand maximum points to the newly promoted side.
Results (Saturday): Barcelona 2 - 0 UDG Tenerife; Alavés 1 - 2 Madrid CFF; Real Madrid 2 - 0 Valencia; Real Sociedad 2 - 0 Villarreal; Sevilla 1 - 3 Atlético Madrid
Results (Sunday): Athletic Club 3 - 0 Sporting Huelva; Alhama CF ElPozo 2 - 3 Levante; Real Betis 1 - 2 Levante Las Planas