The women’s team, a step away from mathematical safety
Their 3-1 victory against Añorga leaves them 5 points above the relegation zone with three games left until the end of the league season
The SD Eibar ladies first team is on the verge of mathematical safety following their victory in Unbe yesterday against Añorga - fourth in the Second Division - who were beaten 3-1 by the armero team.
The encounter drew certain parallels with the men’s game played the day before: it was a Guipuzcoan derby and the home side’s win, after coming back from a goal down, practically ensures the team’s permanence in the division.
During the first minutes of the game, Añorga took the reins and exploited one of the corners conceded by the home side to take the lead in the 34th minute with a goal by Larra.
Driven by the need for a result to avoid a struggle in the final games, Eibar came out after the break with more ambition, looked for the ball more and were more vertical in their play.
A long ball in the 53rd minute saw Haizea Lomba beat the centre-backs for speed and put the ball past the rival keeper to level the score at 1-1.
A few minutes later came another long ball, but this time it was high. Haizea Lomba again got ahead of the central defenders and dived for the ball. In an attempt to clear it the keeper hit the Eibar player in the face with her fists and the referee pointed to the spot. Alaitz Seoane decided to take responsibility for the penalty kick, but her shot went narrowly wide of the post.
The home side continued to concede corners but Iratxe, the goalkeeper, managed to clear them without too much difficulty. Eight minutes from the end of the 90, Haizea Lomba took an in-swinging corner that nobody managed to connect with, the ball fell loose inside the goal area and Maitane Basterra seized the chance to put the ball in the back of the net.
It seemed as though the game was going to finish like this, but in the 88th minute Ainhoa Alonso left the two central defenders for dead from the middle of the pitch and with just the keeper to beat finished perfectly to give a final scoreline of 3-1. To Eibar's immense joy that was how the game ended.
With only three games left until the end of the league season, Eibar enjoys a five point advantage plus a favourable goal difference over the relegation zone. They can guarantee their place in the division next week if they come away from the game against Ardoi in Navarre with something positive.
Team list of Eibar: Iratxe, Naiara, Alaitz, Olatz, Irune, Ainhoa Larruskain, Maitane Basterra, Melani (Yaiza, min. 60), Irati (Ariane, min. 65), Ainhoa Alonso (Ane Egaña, min. 88), Haizea Lomba (Ainara Juaristi, min. 89).
Goals: 0-1: min. 34, Larra. 1-1: min. 53, Haizea Lomba. 2-1: min. 82, Maitane Basterra. 3-1: min. 88, Ainhoa Alonso.