Sara Monforte’s team gave a lesson in dedication, but failed to find the net against Real Sociedad
Villarreal Women lost to Real Sociedad (0-1). The team gave a lesson in will and commitment against Real Sociedad, who showed their effectiveness and withstood the onslaught from the visitors. The Submarine searched for the equaliser until the last second, but paid the price for their lack of goalscoring ability.
Villarreal showed that they wanted to win from the first minute. Sara Monforte’s team took the field with a higher level of intensity than their opponents, who didn’t get over the halfway line until the 20th minute.
Villarreal’s insistence in the early stages of the game was not rewarded and Real Sociedad, suffocated until then by the Submarine’s asphyxiating pressure, found a crack in the Yellow defence through direct play. Amaiur ran into space between the Yellows’ defenders and was denied Carmen Carbonell. The Valencian goalkeeper beat away her effort, only for the ball to fall to Jensen to make it 0-1.
The goal did not sit well with the Submarine, whose dominance in the early stages dissipated as the game progressed. Equality began to prevail on the Mini Estadi pitch. Villarreal accumulated several chances, which did not result in shots on goal, while Real Sociedad were looking for space to hurt the visitors. With two minutes to go before the break, the ‘Txuri-urdin’ team could have made it 0-2, but Carbonell saved her team.
The start of the second half was a carbon copy of the first. Villarreal once again showed their desire to win, offering a plus in terms of physicality. The good start from Villarreal was backed up with several clear goalscoring chances.
First, Sheila crashed her shot from inside the box into a defender after a fantastic cross from Nerea, who made a great run down the right flank. Immediately afterwards, Kanteh had another chance with a header that went narrowly wide. Sara Monforte’s side set alarm bells ringing for the realists.
As the clock ticked down, the Submarine stepped up their efforts in search of an equaliser. In the last minute, Tere Morató smashed a fierce cross-shot into the goalkeeper’s gloves, only to be denied by the post just as the rebound appeared to be heading into the back of the net.
In the end, Real Sociedad took all the spoils at the Mini Estadi. The Yellows will visit Sporting Club de Huelva next Sunday, at 12pm CEST.
Lineups
Villarreal Women: C. Carbonell; I. Miguélez (Tere, m. 70), C. Cubedo (Giménez, m. 57), Lara Mata, F. Lara (Albeta, m. 46); Nerea, Soldevila, M. Llompart (Belén, m. 86), Cienfu; Kanteh, Sheila.
Real Sociedad: A. Nanclares; Le Guilly (Maddi, m. 84), Tejada (I. Arnaiz, m. 37), Vanegas, Izarne (Bernabé, m. 57); Gemma, Andreia, N. Eizagirre; Amaiur (Allegra, m. 84), Jensen (Mirari, m. 84), Franssi.
Goal: 0-1. Min. 20: Jensen.
Referee: Raquel Suárez González. Booked: Tejada, Bernabé & A. Nanclares (Real Sociedad).
Matchday information: Match between Villarreal Women and Real Sociedad, corresponding to Gameweek 27 of the 2022/23 Finetwork season, at the Mini Estadi. Attendance: 550.
