SD Eibar left on the brink of winning the Basque Women’s Cup

Añorga was proclaimed champion of the XXI edition of the Basque Cup by beating Eibar on penalties, after the end of normal time came with the scoreboard showing a one-all draw.

Following an unremarkable first half with hardly any chances, in the second a beautiful goal from Maialen Vega–who scored with a lob in the 56 minute–was cancelled out by the armeras in injury time with a fine goal by Anega.

The first half was hard-fought, but the game was missing that vital element in football, goals, and scoring chances by either side were few and far between, with the good work by both team’s defences getting the better of the attempts by the forwards. That said, Añorga played with a bit more initiative and was the team that enjoyed the better opportunities. In the 10th minute, Carton, escaped down the left from a throw-in and broke into the area, but Iratxe cleared the shot for a corner. In the last move of the half, it would be Vega who had a chance to score when coming up against Iratxe, but the keeper thwarted the attempt.

 In the second half, Añorga came out strong and in the fifth minute Carton got possession of the ball on the edge of the area after several attempted clearances from a corner and her shot traced a dipping curve that smashed against the crossbar.  The home side’s better start to the second period was reflected on the scoreboard when, in the 56th minute, Maialen Vega got the better of the defenders and made it 1–0 by lobbing the ball over Iratxe, after a long goal kick by Olatz had been inadvertently headed on by Irune.  The local side could have gone further ahead barely four minutes later with a ball into space that Izaskun chased down, but Naiara prevented the shot, causing some alarm in the process because her clearance was perilously close to becoming an own goal.

 Eibar tried to pull themselves together, making substitutions and pressing up-field searching for the equalizer but it was Añorga who caused more danger. In the 68th minute following a good move on the right wing by Leire Manterola the ball came to Maialen Vega, whose effort went wide.  The armeras kept trying, but in the 73rd minute Haizea Lomba was unable to put away a cross by Ainhoa Alonso, despite getting her head to the ball and then, with 15 minutes left, another cross from the right by Larrus came to Maitane but she lost control and Olatz, who was alert to the danger, was quick to gather up the ball.

 Añorga had two more chances in the final 15 minutes and seemed to be in control in the face of the armeras' timid attempts but then, with the game in injury time, Anega pulled a superb goal out of the hat, with a shot that beat Olatz for height. That meant that the txapeldun (champion) of the Cup was going to be decided by the lottery of a shoot-out from the penalty spot.

During this edition of the Cup, penalties have been synonymous with joy for Añorga and they would prove to be again in the final. The home side’s four penalty takers were all on target and Olatz was again the key, stopping two of the azulgrana’s penalties.  At the end, euphoria in Añorga at having another Basque Cup for their trophy cabinet–two titles and twice runners-up in four consecutive finals–while for the armeros, the initial disappointment was rapidly replaced by the satisfaction of having played an excellent tournament, especially bearing in mind the physical problems and injuries suffered throughout the competition.  

SD Eibar would like to thank all the public who travelled to the game and gave us their support during the game and the penalty shoot-out. Eskerrik Asko!! (Thank you)

Añorga: Olatz, Maialen Goiko, Larra (Inés, min.88), Gantxegi, Saioa, Urruzola,  Gabri, Carton (Alonso, min.66), Izas (Kattalin, min.80), Maialen Vega and Ibar (Leire Manterola, min.66).

Eibar: Iratxe, Naiara, Olatz, Alaitz, Irune (Juaristi, min.80), Larrus (Anega, min.85), Melani (Ariane, min.55), Alonso, Maitane, Irati Lazkano (Yaiza, min.48) and Miren San Martin (Haizea Lomba, min.57).

Goals: 1-0 (min. 56) Maialen Vega; 1-1 (min. 90+2) Anega. 4–3 for Añorga in the penalty shoot-out.