Villarreal Femenino share the spoils with Valencia CF thanks to goals from María Macías and Irene Miguélez
Villarreal Femenino drew with Valencia CF (2-2) in an intense derby played at the Mini Estadi in front of nearly 2,000 fans in the stands. The groguetes produced an excellent first half and took the lead with a stunning goal from María Macías, but the Valencian side turned the game around in the second half before Irene Miguélez restored parity.
Villarreal started the match with personality and bravery, dominating the play and combining fluently. Sara Medina, Aixa, María Macías and Lauris led the Yellow Submarine’s attacks, generating constant approaches to the area and forcing goalkeeper Jana Xin into several interventions.
The first clear chance for the Groguetes came in the 20th minute when Cienfu tried her luck with a long-range effort after spotting the Valencia goalkeeper off her line, although the ball sailed just over the crossbar. Barely two minutes later, María Macías scored a superb goal with a strike into the top corner to make it 1-0.
Valencia responded with a dangerous shot from Amanda Mbadi in the 28th minute, while the Yellows continued to create chances with further attempts from Aixa and Lauris. In fact, in the 43rd minute Lauris sent a cross to the far post, but Aixa was just unable to reach it.
After the break, Valencia began to pose more danger. Yasmin Mrabet tried her luck in the 55th minute with a shot that was caught by Montse Quesada, and she tested the goalkeeper again in the 64th minute. The Valencian side’s persistence eventually paid off in the 67th minute, when Claudia Ferrato headed home to make it 1-1.
The match then entered a frantic spell. Just three minutes later, Valencia completed the comeback with a goal straight from a corner from Sara Tamarit. Montse Quesada managed to catch the ball, but she fell inside the goal line and the goal was awarded (1-2, min. 70).
Villarreal Femenino reacted immediately. In the 72nd minute, Irene Miguélez, who had just come onto the pitch, took advantage of a rebound following a shot from Lauris to level the score (2-2). Although Valencia were reduced to ten players after the sending-off of Gema Climent, the Yellow Submarine were unable to find the winner and take all three points. In fact, they came close to victory in the 90th minute with a goal from Martuka, but it was ruled out for offside, leaving the final score at 2-2.
Villarreal Femenino’s next match will be away against CE Europa on Sunday 22nd February (12pm CET).
Match details:
Villarreal Femenino: M. Quesada; Nerea, Paulsen, Moreira (I. Miguélez, min. 69), Laura; S. Medina, Cienfu, María (Querol, min. 77), Lauris (Martuka, min. 77); Macías (Alexia Jr, min. 69) and Aixa.
Valencia Féminas: Jana Xin; Sara Tamarit, Lena Pérez, Nazaret Martín, Gema Climent, Rebecca Elloh, Marta Mascarell (Elena Sánchez, min. 59), Amanda Mbadi (Yasmin Mrabet, min. 46), Tere Morató (Irene Monente, min. 83), Esther Gómez (Pauleta Sancho, min. 73) and Irene Soler (Claudia Ferrato, min. 46).
Goals: 1-0, min. 20: Macías. 1-1, min. 66: Ferrato. 1-2, min. 69: M. Quesada (own goal). 2-2, min. 72: I. Miguélez.
Referee: Sara Fernández. She booked the home player Nerea Pérez, as well as visitors Lena Pérez, Yasmin Mrabet, Pauleta Sancho and Rebecca Elloh. She also showed a second yellow card to Gema Climent.
Attendance: Match played at the Mini Estadi of the Ciudad Deportiva José Manuel Llaneza corresponding to Matchday 21 of the Primera Federación Femenina.
