Maria Llompart’s 96^th-minute penalty gives Villarreal Women a point

Villarreal Women salvaged a point at the death against SD Eibar in a game in which they deserved more. The Yellows created far more chances than their opponents, who took the lead in practically the only shot on target of the game, but Maria Llompart equalised from eleven yards to give her side a chance of survival.

Villarreal Women came out of the game well. Sara Monforte’s team managed to take control of the ball in the early stages of the game and that is how the great chances of the first half came about.

In the 14th minute, Llompart took advantage of a dead ball in the middle of the box from a second corner to hit a right-footed shot that was easily caught by former Yellows keeper María Miralles.

Raquel Morcillo, on the half-hour mark, had the best chance of the game so far. The versatile left-back had a long-range free-kick which she placed towards the right-hand corner of the Armeros’ goal, but the crossbar prevented the ball from making it 1-0.

With the score level at the break, the two teams in a first half in which Villarreal had chances to take the lead.

The script did not change during the first few minutes of the second half. Villarreal Women kept possession of the ball, trying to find a gap in the packed visiting defence, who were waiting for their chance on the counter.

Sara Monforte made a change on 54 minutes when Kanteh came on in place of Rocío García to give the game an extra gear. Thaís Reiss and Tere Morato came on for María Romero and Lucía Romero respectively in search of the winning goal in the closing stages of the game.

Villarreal continued to push forward. The Yellows were looking for an inspired Lucía Romero who was wreaking havoc down the Armeros’ left flank. In fact, it was from the feet of the youngster that Villarreal Women’s best chance of the second half came. In the 82^nd minute, the she cut inside onto her left foot to put in a measured cross for the head of McKenna, who was all in at the far post with a dive, but Miralles, safely down low, saved the header.

And just when it looked as if the home team were closer to a goal than the visitors, the Yellows were dealt a huge blow when Andrea A. scored in the 87^th minute to put Sara Monforte’s side in a very delicate situation.

Villarreal did not let their opponents’ goal get the better of them. In the play after the goal, Kayla McKenna found a bouncing ball in the box and she shot violently, but her shot went into the side netting.

There was more to come in this dramatic finale. In a move inside the SD Eibar box, McKenna’s shot hit a defender’s hand and Paola Cebollada, the referee, awarded a penalty, which Maria Llompart converted to salvage a point for Villarreal Women and keep their hopes of survival alive.

Villarreal Women will play their next match on Saturday 25^th May, at 12pm CEST, against Levante at the Valencian side’s training ground.. It will be the first of three games that Sara Monforte’s side will play before the end of the season with, hopefully, the goal of survival achieved for another year.