Appeared Aitana Bonmatí And there was light. The brilliance of the Ballon d’Or illuminated the path of a fantastic comeback by Spain in the inconsequential match against Sweden, which went to half-time celebrating a 1-3 lead and returned 45 minutes later cursing a 5-3 lead. The entry of the Barça midfielder at game time spurred the team to make a comeback a formidable reaction that culminated Mariona Caldentey with two goals and the icing on the cake from Fiamma.
Spain closed the historic year of women’s football with a match that summed up The best and the worst: a regrettable start that was added to the clumsy performance against Italy against a Sweden that could have been so unmotivated, but that squeezed its pride, and a display of play that overcame its own weaknesses, all concentrated in defense.
Pending uncertainties
“We have to improve many things. Scoring five goals against Sweden costs a lot and we have to be happy with the team’s attitude, but they can’t score three goals so quickly,” said Mariona, the leading architect of the Spanish celebration that leaves some uncertainties. For example, that of the continuity of Montse Tomé, the coach, the last remaining vestige of the incomplete renovation undertaken in the federation.
A goal at 38 seconds and the third in the 29th minute They are reliable proof of the rigor lost in the double shift with the transfer from Pontevedra to Málaga. The Pasarón was filled and La Rosaleda looked half empty, a stadium with almost triple the capacity and which had much more fun.
Defensive weaknesses
Sweden tore Spain’s defense, although the Nordics’ laxity at the back was very similar, which explains the scoring festival of the night. The extraordinary goalkeeper Jennifer Falk, who maintained the level that Zecira Musovic usually displays, delayed the possibility of defeat as long as she could. A mistake she made with her foot was made up for with several saving hands, until Mariona’s furious volley doubled them. Once the last barrier was broken, the Spanish comeback was completed with a one-on-one match against Fiamma.
Tomé gave up fielding the youngest of the group giving out debuts and opted for small changes in the goal (Misa for Cata Coll), the defense (Ivana for Paredes) and, the most striking, that of Maite Oroz for Aitana Bonmatí, who felt unwell at half-time against Italy.
And Aitana appears
The Barça midfielder appeared at the hour mark to try to turn the score around when the match had broken down, with both sides having confirmed their own and others’ defensive weaknesses. Aitana had a chance a minute and a half after appearing but she missed with a bad shot.
Having a Ballon d’Or on the field always brings a benefit in the influence it exerts and the entry of the Barça midfielder spurred the group on. Mariona reactivated herself to collaborate in the reaction that was immediately noticed and Salma was excited to receive more balls in the area.
Same restart, different outcome
The start of the second half had repeated that of the first, although with a different outcome, since the difference on the scoreboard was reduced. Blackstenius hit the crossbar, but Athenea del Castillo fired in a wonderful cross from Olga Carmona. As wonderful as the one that had served Salma Paralluelo for 1-1, also free of marking inside the yellow area.
The Swedes did not finish their goals alone, however, but the red area was populated, both in the corner taken at the near post and taken advantage of at the far post by Olme, who did not even jump, and in the brilliant play that culminated Asllani and in the anticipation of Blackstenius at 1-3. Tomé laid the first stone by shoring up the defense with Laia Codina and then shaking up the football with the entry of Aitana. The World Cup players then saw the light, which was too blinding for Sweden.
2023-12-05 20:16:24
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