Sporting de Huelva 1-2 Barça: Chances missed but a win all the same

A win is a win as FC Barcelona Women dominated the encounter against Sporting de Huelva but had to wait until the final minutes to secure victory in Andalusia. Claudia Pina opened the scoring in the first half before Patri Guijarro added a second in added time in the second half. A late goal from the home side helped the scoreline give a unfair assessment of how the blaugranes had the upper hand in the game. 

Youth comes to the fore 

Jonatan Giráldez's team dominated from early on with 17 year old midfielder Vicky López shining in the opening minutes. However, it was not until the 24th minute that Claudia Pina found a way through the Huelva defence to make it 1-0 to the blaugranes. 

Barça continued to attack in search for a second goal. Sporting rarely troubled blaugrana keeper Sandra Paños as the visitors controlled the game in the first half, taking a 1-0 lead into the break. 

In the second half the appearance of Aitana, Alexia and Mariona upped the pressure on the home side. A great pass from Alexia saw Brugts felled in the box but the Alexia was denied from the spot by a good save from Huelva keeper Chelsea. 

The second goal for Barça finally arrived in injury time at the end of the second half. Patri Guijarro's header put the result beyond doubt despite a later strike from Balleste for Huelva.  

MATCH STATS

Sporting de Huelva, 1
Barça, 1

Sporting de Huelva: Chelsea, Konat, Ana Carol, Carrasco (Isina, min 69), María Pérez, Hagman (Margraf, min 46), Patri Ojeda, Castelló, Paula Romero (Balleste, min 85), De Filippo (Bialoszewska, min 69) and Miku (Correa, min 85)
Barça: Paños, María León, Pina, Marta (Irene Paredes, min 83), Graham (Corrales, min 83), Patri, Bronze, Bruna (Alexia, min 65), Engen (Mariona, min 65), Brugts and Vicky (Aitana, min 65)

Goals: 0-1, Claudia Pina (min 24); 0-2, Patri (min 91); 1-2, Balleste (min 95)