Madrid CFF 1-2 FC Barcelona: Into the Copa de la Reina semifinals!
Into the Copa de la Reina semifinals for Barça Women, as the current champions eased through 1-2 against Madrid CFF. A game of few clear cut chances saw all the goals scored after dead ball situations.
Pajor opens the scoring
The best possible start at the Fernando Torres stadium in Fuenlabrada, as Pajor steered in from inside the area after captain Marta Torrejón got on the end of a Graham Hansen free-kick to feed the ball along the six yard line (0-1, min. 6). Pere Romeu's side had broken the deadlock, but Madrid CFF were remaining tight and playing on the counter in what was proving to be a game of few real chances.
Marta Torrejón, two goal contributions
It could have been two on 32 minutes, but Ewa Pajor missed a great chance for her brace, as she fired over after a cutback from Aitana. It was looking more likely that another dead ball situation may prove key to grabbing that vital second goal, and up stepped captain Marta Torrejón to head in an Aitana cross from the centre of the area after a short corner routine (0-2, min. 41). Still time for a scare before the break as Madrid CFF's Nautnes headed onto a post a minute later.
Qualification confirmed
The Madrid side pushed up their lines after the restart and the Catalans had to resist for a period, before they had their own period of pressure, but couldn't find another goal. What looked like a nasty injury for Melgard from Madrid CFF dampened the tempo for a while, but a Graham Hansen chance and a Pajor header showed which team was still on top after play resumed.
Play became more stretched as the home side tried to find a way back into the match, which they did with the very last play – from another dead ball situation – this time a corner to the far post that Cometti headed in (1-2, min. 90+4). But that was that, and the blaugranes had got the job done to secure a place in the Copa de la Reina semifinal once again.
MATCH STATS
Madrid CFF: 1
Barça: 2
Madrid CFF: Belén de Gracia, Cometti, Monica, Mendoza, Poljak, Bonsegundo (Bárbara 77'), Laborde, Marcetto (Halldorsdottir 68'), Villafañe (Alba Ruiz 77'), Nautnes (Araya 67') and Melgard (Librán 62').
Barça: Cata Coll, Batlle (Jana 73'), Paredes, Marta, Brugts, Engen, Aitana (Caño 84'), Kika (Schertenleib 73'), Graham, Pajor (Pina 65') and Paralluelo (Rolfö 65').
Goals: 0-1, Pajor (min. 6), 0-2, Marta (min. 41), 1-2, Cometti (min. 90+4).
Referee: Elena Peláez.