Before reaching the break of the duel against Italy, Spain already knew that it was in the final four of the Nations League with the defeat of Sweden in Switzerland. If a wild card had to be used up, this was the opportunity, although this team accustomed to brilliance since last summer’s world title in Sydney did not find it a bit funny to give up their unbeaten record against a transalpine team that displayed insurmountable effectiveness and He scored three goals in his three dangerous appearances. Based on his aim, he stopped La Roja’s streak, which had accumulated eight consecutive victories.
Spain, which soon learned of the Swedish failure, was regardless of what happened in the semifinals of the League of Nations and therefore just one step away from the two places for the Paris Olympic Games that the tournament grants. With the tranquility of a goal achieved in advance, the world champion tried to give the Pasarón fans, packed for the occasion, a victory and a night of goals and spectacle, as usual in recent times.
Despite the good transalpine start, with the aim of contesting the ball to La Roja and with a high shot from Boattin, Montse Tomé’s team put things in their place based on fluid play. Mariona’s goal disallowed for offside was followed by Athenea’s right-footed shot into the net, which beat Boattin through its characteristic electricity. With the tranquility of the advantage, Spain stifled any attempt at an Italian reaction based on their effort in pressure.
Spain
Cata Coll, Ona Batlle, Paredes (Ivana Andrés, min. 68), Aleixandri, Olga Carmona, Tere Abelleira, Aitana Bonmatí (Esther González, min. 46), Jenni Hermoso, Athenea (Lucía García, min. 46), Paralluelo and Marion
2
–
3
Italia
Giugliani, Di Guglielmo (Salvai, min. 91), Lenzini, Linari, Boattin, Bergamaschi, Caruso, Giugliano (Galli, min. 71), Cambiaghi (Piedmont, min. 91), Dragoni (Catena, min. 55) y Giacinti (Cantor, min. 55).
Goals: 1-0: min. 12, Athena. 1-1: min. 46, Giacinti. 1-2: min. 57, Cambiaghi. 1-3: min. 64, Linari. 2-3: min. 77, Esther González.
Referee: Eleni Antoniou (Greece). She reprimanded Ivana Andrés and Lucía García.
Incidents: Match of the fifth day in group A4 of the Nations League played in Pasarón (Pontevedra).
The ball barely lasted a breath for the Azzurra, forced to defend themselves in their domain to stay alive in the match. However, perhaps as a result of the loose situation, Spain lacked depth and success in the last pass to increase its advantage, with the scorer Athenea being the most active player. Solid at the back with Irene Paredes as the leader of the defense in her hundredth game with La Roja, the best women’s team on the planet faced the locker room tunnel without receiving a single shot on goal against them.
Everything seemed under control, since Italy had not appeared in Spain’s domain, when as soon as the match resumed an error by Cata Coll in the delivery, Caruso took advantage of it to serve Giacinti, who acted as ‘9’ and sealed the tie under the sign of maximum effectiveness. It was a somewhat chaotic start for the Spanish team, which began the second half with ten players due to the late incorporation of Esther González onto the field.
Transalpine storm
Under the Galician rain, Spain had to put on its overalls, as already happened against the same rival in Salerno. Laia Aleixandri had the advantage with a deflected header after a corner kick from Tere Abelleira, who was playing at her home on a very special night, but again the Italians hit with an iron fist on a Cambiaghi header. The Inter forward did not waste Giugliano’s good cross from the right profile and turned the duel around in a challenge for the Spanish team.
Esther claimed a penalty for handball in the transalpine area but the Greek Antoniou did not consider an action that seemed punishable and could have changed the fate of the duel. Italy punished again with an infallible hit in a blackboard play, in which Linari took advantage of Spain’s doubts in the aerial game.
In a flash the duel had gone from the placidity of 1-0 to the storm unleashed by Italy’s three goals, in line with the adverse weather of the Galician night. La Roja, champion by stripes and also in spirit, held on to the duel with Esther González’s goal, which was fair after Abelleira’s shot hit the crossbar. However, the classic transalpine trade limited the reaction of a team that, despite the defeat, is just one step away from the Paris Olympic Games.
2023-12-01 22:40:16
#Spain #final #bittersweet #taste
