Villarreal Women beat DUX Logreño in the penalty shootout (4-5) thanks to a heroic Carmen Carbonell
Into the Round of 16! Sara Monforte’s side have reached the following round of the Copa de la Reina after beating DUX Logroño on Tuesday afternoon at the Estadio Mundial 82. The Women made their debut in the knock-out tournament for the first time ever, and move into the next round after winning in the penalty shootout thanks to a decisive Carmen Carbonell.
The match started with a high tempo, with both teams excited about the chance of progressing in a tournament which gives sides a chance to have a nice journey in a different competition. In the opening 45 minutes, Sara Monforte’s side dominated possession, imposing their playing style and creating more dangerous chances than the home side, who failed to trouble Carbonell.
Villarreal Women were trying but were lacking a cutting edge in front of goal and DUX Logroño were unable to penetrate the Yellows in defence, with the game going into the half-time break at 0-0.
It was just as tight in the second half. Neither DUX Logroño nor Villarreal Women, who brought on Tere Morató, Zaïra Flores, Sara Medina and Sara Bermell on in the second half, were able to find the goal to stop the game going to extra-time, despite a good chance for the Yellows in the 92nd minute. There were 30 minutes of pure emotion left, where the two sides tried to find their place among the 16 best teams in the competition.
In the first half of the extra time, both sides went head-to-head looking to get the opener. If there wasn’t many chances, there was a great piece of news in the second half. After overcoming a ligament injury in her left knee, Salma Paralluelo came on off the bench in the 106th minute, replacing Estefa Lima and returning to action 248 days later, for the first time since her injury in April 2021.
The match ended after 120 minutes all square, and it went to penalties. Y. Giménez, Sara Medina, Zaïra, Tere and Laura Royo scored from the spot, with Carbonell saving two penalties to send Villarreal Women through to the next round.
Lineups:
DUX Logroño: Longa; Palacios (m. 46, Coolfat), Infante, Sofía, Valderas; Marta, Solow (m. 63, Ohman), Kika, Aby Manou; Elena (m. 78, Ida G.), Olga García (m. 63, Ana Hdz.).
Villarreal Femenino: C. Carbonell; Olivia, Lara Mata (m. 91, Laura Royo), Y. Giménez, Aixa Salvador (m. 48, Tere); Estefa (m. 106, Paralluelo), Bea Prades, Nerea, Cienfu (m. 69, Zaïra); Pinel S. (m. 69, S. Medina), Belén (m. 85, Sara Bermell).
Referee: Beatriz Cuesta Arribas. Booked: Tere, Laura Royo (Villarreal Women).
Matchday information: Match between DUX Logroño and Villarreal women, corresponding to Round Three of the Copa de la Reina at the Estadio Mundial 82.
