Málaga CF Femenino defeated RUT Santa Cruz, at the Francisco Romero, on matchday 24 of Segunda Federación Grupo Sur. Monterroso, Marilén (penalty) and Ruth scored the Malaguista goals in a hard-fought and well-deserved win.
The team stepped on to the pitch raring to go, dominating ball possession and reaching the vicinity of the rival goal. After a quarter of an hour Tati almost had it, with a shot from distance that narrowly missed the target. However, midway through the first half came Jou's goal, which put the visitors in the lead (0-1, 22').
Málaga's reaction was not long in coming. María Monterroso, making the most of a rebound from the RUT goalkeeper, scored the equaliser (1-1, 24'). The third goal of the season for the Guatemalan international striker.
Following a hydration break, on a hot morning in Rincón de la Victoria, Juanma's girls went in search of a second goal before half-time, but it wasn’t to be.
In the second half, MCFF quickly took the lead. An action by Futu in Tenerife’s area led to her cross being touched by the hand of a rival defender. Penalty. Marilén converted from the penalty spot (2-1, 51') and scored for the second consecutive game against a team from her native Canary Islands.
In minute 70, the Blue and Whites made a double substitution, bringing on Teté and Nazaret in place of Tati and Futu. Shortly afterwards RUT went level thanks to a sensational shot from distance by Aila that found the net with great power (2-2, 76').
After the second hydration break of the match, Carmen Gómez came on for Monterroso, occupying the centre of attack (81'). Three minutes later came the winning goal. Captain Ruth, with all her heart, advanced to the right and slammed the ball into the top corner (3-2, 84'). In the last minutes of stoppage time, MCFF were a player down as Carmen Gómez was shown a direct red card (91'), but they held on and claimed another three points from the 3-2 victory.
With 41 points from 24 matches, Málaga CF remain in the fight for the Top 5 of the standings. There’s no competition next week and, in a fortnight’s time, the girls are away to one of the candidates to win the championship and move up a division, Balears FC.
