A goal from Lauris gives the Yellows the win against AEM to stay towards the top of the table
Villarreal Women went into the game in good form, having taken seven of a possible 12 points up for grabs so far. However, the Yellows were facing a very dangerous AEM Lleida side who were feeling positive, as the Catalans had just eliminated RCD Espanyol in the Copa de la Reina. Despite this euphoria from the visitors, Virginia Garcia’s side put in a very confident performance, not allowing themselves to be dominated and earning three important points thanks to Lauris’s goal.
Barely 20 minutes had been played when Cienfu gave the first warning. The Asturian midfielder shot the ball over the crossbar. Despite this good start, the next few minutes were marked by a denser and more difficult game for both teams, in which neither managed to create any real danger.
With half-time approaching, the visitors had another chance. A good run from Lauris put the Catalans in some trouble, although the ball was deflected and, from the resulting shot, Paula Guerrero couldn’t get on the end of it and it went wide.
It was Lauris again the protagonist just at the start of the second half. The Salamanca player spearheaded a very dangerous counter-attack down the left flank and scored a highly important goal (1-0, min. 46).
The goal from the Yellows caused AEM to increase their intensity, both offensively and defensively. The game entered a new phase. The Catalans put Villarreal in some trouble, but a very accurate Vicky Benitez and Lena Perez in the defensive line, as well as a very safe Carmen Carbonell in goal, prevented the scoreboard from moving. The bad news for Virgy García’s side came in the 75th minute when Vicky was forced off injured in an accidental action.
The Yellows had two more chances to extend their lead, but shots from Alexia Jr. and Lucía Romero failed to find the target. In this way, Villarreal Women made Lauris’s goal count, and settled in the top half of the table.
Line-ups:
Villarreal Women: C. Carbonell; Nerea, Vicky (m. 77, Querol), Lena Pérez, Riquelme J. (m. 88, Rita); María, Guerrero, Cienfu (m. 88, Maria Ferreira); Aixa (m. 77, Lucía R.), Alexia Jr. (m. 65, N. Vicente), Lauris.
AEM, S.E.: Laura M., S. Peñalver (m. 59, Loba), Palacios (m. 84, Ari), Noelia, Evelyn, M. Lara (m. 59, Abril R.), Meri, L. Blasco (m. 59, M. Atiq Ez), Marina, Vero Herrera, M. Martí (m. 46, M. Gestera).
Goals: 1-0. Min. 46: Lauris.
Referee: Josefa Sánchez Gómez. Booked: Querol (Villarreal); L. Blasco, Marina, Ari (AEM).
Matchday information: Game corresponding to Mathcday 5 of the 2024/25 Primera Federación Iberdrola between Villarreal Women and AEM, on Pitch 5 of the José Manuel Llaneza Training Ground.
