Málaga visited the Ciudad Deportiva Rafael Gordillo this afternoon to face the Real Betis Féminas reserve team, on matchday 24 of Group 3 of the Segunda Federación.
For this antepenultimate league match, which kicked off at 17:00, Héctor Díaz made five changes compared to the side that faced CD Femarguín in Gran Canaria on Wednesday. The starting XI featured María Arrabal in goal; Encarni, Jeni, Yoli Peche and Lorena Herrera in a back four; Marina and Noemi in the double pivot; Alba Navarro and Alicia on the flanks; and Águeda and Futu leading the attack.
The match began with a long period of feeling out between both teams, as they tried to impose themselves on the pitch in Sevilla, with very few clear chances in the first half.
The afternoon turned difficult in the 34th minute, when the home side took the lead through a goal from Ana (1-0).
Despite the setback, the Blue and Whites stepped up in search of an equaliser. Alba Navarro had the chance to level the score, but the home goalkeeper produced a fine save to deny Málaga a goal.
María Arrabal also had to make a key intervention shortly before half-time.
At the start of the second half, Héctor Díaz was forced into his first substitution due to injury. Marina was unable to continue and was replaced by Andrea Ríos.
Just before the hour mark, a triple substitution followed, with Arantxa, Andrea Herrero and Belén coming on for Águeda, Futu and Alba Navarro.
Immediately afterwards, the equaliser arrived through Encarni, who rose superbly to head home from a corner (1-1, 62’). Málaga pushed for a second goal right up to the end, with a dangerous shot from Noemi in the 83rd minute that was saved by the Betis goalkeeper.
In the end, the match finished 1-1, with Málaga reaching 45 points in the standings with two games left in the regular season.
