The women’s team mathematically safe after winning 0-4 in Leioa
The gunsmiths will continue playing in the Second Division
SD Eibar women’s team has mathematically ensured retaining its place in the Second Division after beating (0-4) Leioako Emakumeak in the penultimate fixture while the two teams chasing them dropped points.
The game began in a frenzy, with neither of the two sides controlling play. The gunsmiths slowly began to settle on the field and create chances, the first of which saw Haizea Lomba alone against the home side’s keeper, Arrate, who saved the attempt.
SD Eibar were now arriving at their rival’s area dangerously and in the 25th minute came the decisive move. After controlling a long pass, Ainhoa Alonso tried to chip the keeper, who resorted to stopping the ball with her hand outside the area. The referee signalled the foul and sent-off Leioa’s goalkeeper. Melani took charge of executing the free kick and scored with a shot into the top corner of the goal.
Before the break, the gunsmiths had other, fairly-clear, chances to extend their lead - there was a killer pass from Ainhoa Alonso to Irati Lazkano that came close, or another pass into space that reached Ainhoa Alonso, whose attempt to dribble around the goalkeeper was stopped by the intervention of the keeper’s feet.
The gunsmiths’ whirlwind came in the second half. The home side, needing the 3 points to stay alive, decided to take a risk and the gunsmiths took full advantage. Barely 3 minutes after the restart, Ainhoa Alonso hit a long-range shot that beat the keeper and made the scoreline 0-2. The gunsmiths continued with no let-up in intensity and Naiara Lete hit the crossbar with a shot from distance. Half an hour was left when Ainhoa Alonso seized on a ball the keeper had only managed to parry to make it 0-3.
With 10 minutes remaining, a free kick on the flank taken by Ainhoa Alonso was headed into the net by Ane Egaña who had only just come onto the field, giving a final scoreline of 0-4.
With the victory secured, in order to mathematically ensure survival in the Second Division the gunsmiths required at least one of the two sides below them in the relegation zone to not win their respective games. As it was, neither of their rivals obtained a win and so salvation is, mathematically, a reality.
Teams:
Leioako Emakumeak: Arrate, Garazi, Ziortza, Nerea, Diana, Ane, Paula, Maialen, Landa, Tru and Maria. Also played: Uxue, Nekane, Iratxe
SD Eibar: Iratxe, Naiara, Olatz, Alaitz, Irune, Ainhoa Larruskain, Maitane, Melani, Ainhoa Alonso, Irati Lazkano and Haizea Lomba. Also played: Yaiza, Ane Egaña, Ariane and Ainara Juaristi.
Goals: 0-1: Melani (min.25). 0-2: Ainhoa Alonso (min.48). 0-3: Ainhoa Alonso (min. 60). 0-4: Ane Egaña (min.80).