Málaga CF Femenino visited CF Pozuelo de Alarcón this Saturday at Valle de las Cañas in the Madrid region, for their matchday 8 fixture of Group 3 in the Segunda Federación.
The Blue and Whites arrived at the match following the international break, sitting 11th with seven points, while the hosts were in 8th place with four more points.
Héctor Díaz lined up his team in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation with debutant Amor Leigh in goal; Lorena Herrera, Marina, Yoli Peche, and María Farfán forming the back four; Andrea Ríos and Noemi in midfield; Encarni, Futu, and Alicia in the attacking midfield line; and Arantxa as a mobile attacking reference up front.
The match began with a back-and-forth phase, with both teams settling on the pitch and showing their approach; Málaga pressing higher to threaten the goal, while the Madrid side tried to attack the spaces and look for set-piece situations.
Arantxa and Alicia tried their luck from long range with shots that went well off target, and Futu had the clearest chance of the first half in the 19th minute, connecting with a header that struck the post after a cross from the number 10 on the right.
Our number 11 also came close to breaking the deadlock after a great layoff from Encarni through the middle, but her shot lacked the power and accuracy needed.
Arantxa also came close to scoring in the 42nd minute, firing a powerful left-footed shot toward the near post after a good control and pass from Futu inside the box.
Pozuelo had just one opportunity, with Laura’s header from a Paula Orejón cross going very close to the post.
The first half ended with another clear chance for Héctor Díaz’s team. Futu played a perfectly threaded ball through the middle from the attacking midfield position, but Alicia was denied by the home goalkeeper, Sara García, who prevented the goal.
After the break, MCFF kept pushing in search of a breakthrough.
Alicia tested the goalkeeper twice from the left edge of the box, first with a shot that went high and then with a better-placed attempt that the Madrid side’s keeper held. A similar action came from Noemi in the 53rd minute.
During this phase, the match became more chaotic with moments of back-and-forth play. A driven cross-shot from Arantxa that was deflected for a corner led to a counterattack for the hosts, but Amor Leigh dealt with it superbly, parrying Paula Orejón’s shot with her left foot from that same flank.
The Blue and White coach began to freshen up the team and made a natural change on the right side of the attack, bringing on Elena for Encarni in the 67th minute.
Almost with her first touch, the number 17 put Málaga CF Femenino ahead. Noemi delivered a free kick, the ball fell loose at Alicia’s feet, and she sent a driven left-footed cross to the far post, where Elena arrived to push it into the net (0–1, 71’).
Then, in minute 79, the scorer had another attempt, a long-range shot easily held by the home keeper.
A double substitution followed for the Blue and Whites, with Yessenia and Andrea Herrero coming on for Noemi and Futu.
Far from sitting back to protect their valuable lead, the team continued following the same attacking game plan that led to the second goal.
And the goal that sealed the win didn’t take long to arrive. A well-rehearsed team move doubled the lead. Alicia took a corner to the far post, Lorena Herrera headed it, and Yessenia, alert and ready, scored from the rebound (0–2, 85’).
Valeriano and Águeda came on during stoppage time to ensure there were no late scares and to lock down the victory, replacing Alicia and Arantxa.
In the closing moments, the situation was under control, aside from a long-range shot that Amor Leigh comfortably held.
The victory takes MCFF into double digits, with 10 points from eight matches. Their next fixture is against CD Juan Grande on Saturday the 8th at 18:00.