An early goal from Oguiza allowed Athletic to open the current Liga with a victory in their visit to Levante. The fact that VAR does not yet work in League F deprived Granota’s team of at least having a degree of difference on the scoreboard, as the referee did not receive a goal as a shot by Lahmarique went inside of a superbly defended frame, once more, by Nanclares. The ball bounced off the crossbar of the Bilbao goal and bounced inside it, but the referee, at the request of one of his assistants, ruled that the ball did not go in.
Granotas was in tow on the scoreboard from the start. Their offense was almost always stymied by inspired rival goalkeepers, their own shot-time errors and the Lions’ generally good level of containment. The red and white, meanwhile, clung to their lead on the scoreboard, although not giving up on the increase in their difference. Azkona, Nahikari and Patri Zugasti, their main offensive references, barely showed any signs of life during the clash.
A renewed Levante, with its new coach Roger Lamela on the bench, started strongly against an Athletic team that found in its goalkeeper Nanclares the best resource to stop Granota’s momentum in its tracks. Shortly after the red and white goalkeeper prevented Chacón from hitting his goal, the red and white goal came. Oguiza, who hadn’t even finished the 4th minute, crossed from his wing and the ball flew and bounced until it ended up under Holmbrem’s goal.
The Granotas, far from collapsing, asserted their offensive against the visiting team. Chacón, Carrasco and Paula Fernández test Nanclares again and he responds correctly. David Aznar’s team gained consistency as the match went on and even had good chances to increase their lead. Pinedo’s powerful shot was deflected by the local goalkeeper with a good hand.
Levante, with Lahmari replacing Arqués on the field, pressed the accelerator on the return from the locker room. Martín Sosa was the first to try Nanclares. The red-and-white goalkeeper, in his line of safety, stopped the first attempt of the veteran soccer player of Granota with the help of Maddi and the second with another good hand.
The controversial match play came shortly after. The newly incorporated Lahmari finished against the Bilbao goal, the ball bounced first off the crossbar and then into the red and white goal; but the referee, at the request of one of his linesmen, understood that the ball had not gone in. Big mistake.
David Aznar, aware that his team needed fresh air, decided to simultaneously introduce Mariana and the debutant Valero for Oguiza and Azkona, respectively. Two significant changes.
The Granotas, with Martín Sosa as their great cheerleader, continued to test until the end against an Athletic team that knew how to be strong at the back and maintain an early goal advantage until victory was secured. If VAR had existed in women’s football, the final result would have been different due to a legal goal that was not awarded to Levante due to a referee error.
Levant
01
ATHLETIC
Levant: Holmbrem; Alharilla (Teresa 86′), Molina, Eva Alonso, Gabaldón; Arqués (Lahmari 46′), Torrodà, Paula Fernández, Carrasco; Martín Sosa and Chacón.
TheAthletic: Nanclares; Landaluze, Maddi, Bibi, Nevado; Azkona (Mariana 64′), Baños, Oguiza (Valero 64′), Pinedo (Gara 86′); Nahikari (Itxaso 86′) and Patri Zugasti (Sanadri 86′).
Purpose: 0-1: min. 4, Ogiza.
The
Thereferee: Amy Peñalver Pearce (Balearic Committee).
see the match sheet
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
