The Spanish women’s soccer team tied (1-1) against Canada at the beginning of a new stage reflected in the debutant’s goal Cristina Martín-Prietoin the 89th minute at the Francisco de la Hera Stadium in the Extremaduran town of Almendralejo.
After being left without a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Spain returned to action with a high-level friendly, against the number six in the FIFA ranking, with about a dozen of news and Monste Tomé willing to improve the world champion. The ‘Red’ found themselves against a wall in the Canadians and on top of that they found themselves behind on the scoreboard at the beginning of the second half.
The cold night in Almendralejo did not prevent us from seeing a team that continues to connect with the fans and that searched tirelessly for the goal until they found it in a Martín-Prieto team that had the dream debut. Not entirely perhaps, since the Andalusian player missed two other very clear chances before scoring the equalizer.
Tomé’s team took the final step forward after conceding the 1-0 lead in the 49th minute, from Marie-Yasmine Alidou d’Anjou, also a scorer for Benfica, after an error by María Méndez behind. Canada was clear: locked up to look for any counterattack or error on the part of the locals. In the first half, they also enjoyed some arrival, with a failure by Cata Coll and in a one-on-one by Viens.
However, there was no shot on goal from the Americans until what marked the score as 0-1. While, Spain had dominion and also several arrivals in the first half, but lacked some precision and speed in the last meters. Alexia Putellas was the one who came closest to the goal and, in the absence of Aitana Bonmatí, who made her team work in the second half.
For the two-time Ballon d’Or winner, all the danger of a Spain that took its pride as champions of the world and the League of Nations after that 0-1 was passed. Olga Carmona and Alba Redondo, twice, missed the tie, but the match was played on a Canadian field. Alexia herself did not have a sharp aim and, with the entry of Martín-Prieto, the goal seemed a matter of time.
Tomé’s team didn’t have much left either, the debutant jumped in the 73rd minute, but Almendralejo celebrated the header from the Benfica player in the 89th minute. Mariona Caldentey and Alexia still had two other chances, but Spain saved at least one defeat with which to begin to forget the lost opportunity in the Olympic Games and once again make its way to new conquests.
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