The Yellows go through to the next round of the cup after beating AEM in the penalty shootout (2-3) with Nerea Vicenta, Aixa Salvador and Marta Querol scoring, and Montse Quesada making three saves
Villarreal Women made their debut in the Copa de la Reina against a familiar yet difficult opponent in AEM; a match that in the league ended in a 1-0 win for the Yellows, although on this occasion with the added difficulty of playing at Recasens.
Virginia García opted to give the opportunity to many players who, to date, had not been able to play as much in the league, either through injury or due to technical decisions. Players such as Elena Gil, Marta Querol, Svenja Paulsen and Claudia Enseñat took to the field with the excitement and desire to give their all.
The early stages of the game went well for Villarreal Women. In the ninth minute, in fact, Lucía Gómez threatened from distance. And in the 12th minute, Claudia Enseñat made no mistake (0-1). The goal seemed to make AEM react, as they moved up the field, becoming more aggressive and started to cause some problems for Villarreal. The visitors’ goal came in the 21st minute thanks to Atiq from a corner (1-1). With this scoreline, the game went to the break and the score would not change until the penalty shoot-out.
In the second half, the Catalans tried to take the lead the, but Elena Gil was on hand to clear a dead ball at the far post. Vicky Benitez and goalkeeper Montse Quesada were also on hand to prevent several goals. The clearest chance of the game went through the boots of María Romero, in the fourth minute of added time, but fortune was not on their side and the game went to extra time.
The additional 30 minutes had little history, as both teams were conditioned by nerves and the need to score, but, above all, not to concede. The passage to the last 16 would be determined in the always dreaded and exciting penalty shoot-out.
Goals from Nerea Vicente, Aixa Salvador and Marta Querol, as well as three spectacular saves from Montse Quesada in the last AEM kicks, gave Villarreal Women qualification for the last 16 in an epic finale.
It should be remembered that this is not the first time Villarreal Women have qualified for the last 16 of the Copa de la Reina on penalties, as in the 2021/22 season they did the same with a stellar Carmen Carbonell against DUX Logroño.
Line-ups:
AEM, S.E.: Mon, Atiq, Noe Fernández, Inés (Paula, min. 81), María Lara (María del Mar, min. 81), Meri M. (Marina, min. 73), Blasco (Andrea Palacios, min. 107), Marina, Gestera, Vero Herrera, Abril R (Evelyn, min. 73).
Villarreal Women: M. Quesada; Lucía G., Vicky (Cienfu, min. 87), Svenja P., Riquelme J.; María (Nerea, min. 95), Querol, Rita (Aixa, min. 59); Lucía R. (Lauris, min. 59), Elena Gil (N. Vicente, min. 70), C. Enseñat (Guerrero, min. 59).
Goals: 0-1. Min. 12: C. Enseñat. 1-1. Min. 21: Atiq. || Penalties: 0-1: N. Vicente. 1-1: Evelyn. 2-1: Loba. 2-2: Aixa. 2-3: Querol.
Referee: Coral Couso. Booked: Lucía Gómez & Marta Querol.
Matchday inforamtion: Round Three of the Copa de la Reina, at Recasens.
