This Sunday in Cártama Málaga CF Femenino played their final game of the season in which they bid farewell to the Second Division. After success in Arguineguín (Gran Canarias) last week, the Blue and Whites became a Liga Iberdrola side, but still needed to play the fourth match of the playoffs against SPA Alicante.
Before the match kicked-off, Club advisers, Francisco Martín Aguilar and Abdullah Ben Barek presented the Mayor of Cártama, Jorge Gallardo, with a gift as thanks for the wonderful treatment received during the season. In addition, they paid tribute to Atlético Málaga, the predecessor of Málaga CF Femenino, who won the treble in 1998. The members of that team welcomed the Blue and White players to rapturous applause from the crowd.
The match got off to a pacey start. SPA Alicante took the lead in the opening stages with a goal from Eva in minute 8 (0-1). However, the Malaguistas soon started to take control of play and began to frequent the rival area.
It wasn’t until the 40th minute, and after one of the rival’s clearest chances crashed into the crossbar, that the home team went level. María Ruiz cleared the defence with a long ball and outwitted the goalkeeper with a tight shot into the back of the net (1-1).
With Málaga CF Femenino now on the offensive, the girls took the lead before half-time. Adriana managed to volley a difficult ball at the edge of the area to slam it into the net with a perfectly executed cross (2-1, 45).
Little changed in the tone of the match in the second half. Antonio Contreras’ girls besieged the rival goal, but without success. Paula came close to a goal in 56’ but came up against the rival keeper’s reflexes – a shot from the corner of the area on the half-turn, but the keeper was able to clear the attempt to a corner.
Finally, and after various other opportunities, the final whistle was blown with the result a 2-1 win in Málaga CF Femenino’s last game as a Second Division team. Liga Iberdrola waits after summer.
Congratulations champions!
Match stats:
2- Málaga CF Femenino: Chelsea, Shiv, Postigo, Paula, María Ruiz, Sheila, Adriana, Pamela, Ruth, Farfán and Meri –starting 11- Alba, Encarni, Noelia, Raquel and Kerlly.
1- SPA Alicante: Andrea, Sara, Zaira, María José, Claudia, Ángela, Sonia, Eva, Marina, Carmen and Ana Pastor –starting 11- Vanesa, Ana López, Maria, Elisa and Laura.
Goals: 0-1 (Eva, 8'); 1-1 (María Ruiz, 44'); 2-1 (Adriana, 45').
Referee: Inmaculada C. Prieto
Information: Final match in the promotion playoffs to the Women’s First Division, held at Municipal de Cártama (Málaga).