News
DOM 26.06.2016
Several years of concerted efforts have finally got their just reward. After coming close on a handful of prior occasions, Atletico Madrid Women captured their first ever major trophy (under their current name) on Sunday with a sensational 3-2 victory over FC Barcelona in what was a barnstorming Copa de la Reina final in Las Rozas.
Angel Villacampa's charges came roaring out of the gates, catching out a Barça side who initially struggled to get their game going, and it wasn't long before the deadlock was broken. Angela Sosa latched on to the ball at the far post from a cross and fired over the Barcelona keeper and into the net.
Far from sitting back after going in front, the buoyant Madrilenians swarmed forward, pushing the Catalan side back deeper and deeper with wave after wave of pressure. Shell-shocked by the Atletico Madrid onslaught, Barcelona were at sixes and sevens, hardly enjoying any prolonged spells of possession and failing to bring their attacking players into the match.
Atletico continued to threaten and made it 2-0 after just 14 minutes. A corner was cleared only as far as the edge of the box, where Silvia Meseguer did not think twice, unleashing a powerful, accurate drive to double the scoreline.
Just three weeks after Atletico inflicted Barça's only league defeat of the season, a 1-0 victory that ended the Catalans' title chances, Villacampa's team tormented the same opponents once again in the Copa de la Reina final. Captain Amanda Sampedro consistently unsettled the Barcelona defence with dangerous passes and runs between the lines on what was, no doubt, a birthday to remember. The team's impressive play was further rewarded with 30 minutes on the clock, when Esther headed home to make it 3-0 and all but seal the cup.
Barcelona did still have a say in the match, however, and were fast out of the traps in the second half. They adopted a higher defensive line and began to create openings. The top goalscorer in the Women's First Division, Jenni Hermoso, started to influence a game which suddenly bore little resemblance to the first period. The forward was brought down in the area just a few minutes after the break, when attempting a shot, and the referee awarded a penalty, which she duly slotted into the corner of the net to give Barcelona renewed hope.
The Catalans, boosted by the goal, grew in confidence and believed a comeback was on the cards. Lola Gallardo's goal was peppered with efforts until Xavi Llorens's side finally cut the arrears further to make it 3-2. After some industrious play down the left wing, a cross reached a well-positioned Jenni, who finished it off to put her team within touching distance of Atletico.
There was a feeling that the second goal would be followed by a gung-ho pursuit of an equaliser by Las Azulgranas, but Atletico managed to stand firm and recover possession in a bid to put the final to bed. With everything still to play for, Barcelona ended up down to 10 players with time running out, after Melanie was given her marching orders. Las Colchoneras managed to hold on resolutely and ended up lifting a historic first Copa de la Reina. On what was surely the most joyous birthday of her life, Sampedro raised the trophy aloft amid raucous Atletico celebrations.
© LALIGA - 2016