MADRID, 15 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish women’s soccer team maintained its good run and closed the turbulent 2022 with a new victory (1-0) this Tuesday at La Cartuja in Seville against a competitive Japan, after validating Alba Redondo’s solitary goal.
The ‘new’ team that Jorge Vilda is trying to build showed a good level to add his third consecutive victory against a rival, who, although it seems far from his best level of yesteryear, put up a ‘battle’ against the Spanish, dominating the game during much of the meeting.
Spain closed its season in what was its last friendly before facing 2023, marked by the World Cup. Jorge Vilda opted for what ‘a priori’ is established as his gala eleven, although Salma Paralluelo was a substitute, and although with difficulties, he added a new emotional victory against a rival with whom he will meet in the group stage of the event world cup.
Although the Japanese had come out better on the field of play, taking advantage of their ability to go on the counter, the national team had more aim. A shot by Claudia Zornoza that hit the crossbar was used by Alba Redondo to send the rebound into the back of the net and put Spain ahead on the scoreboard, as they did against Argentina last Friday.
From then on, the Japanese team continued to play their game, pressing forward and dominating the midfield, but the lack of effectiveness in the last meters and a great Misa Rodríguez prevented the equalizer. The Real Madrid goalkeeper first saved a double chance from Tanaka and before the break she deflected a shot from Minami from point-blank range to a corner after a free kick.
An uncomfortable match for Jorge Vilda’s team that needed a break to rethink their game and find the formula to overcome the defense of five raised by Futoshi Ikeda. However, the Japanese continued to impose their game with the return of the changing rooms and although the locals refreshed their ideas with the entry of Oihane Hernández and Salma Paralluelo, the Asian team barely gave in.
However, the lack of effectiveness was again a burden for the Asians who gradually began to fade in favor of a Spanish team that had to wait until the final minutes to find the first holes in the rocky Japanese defense. The Asians had the tie almost at the end, but Misa Rodríguez saved hers again, taking out a decisive foot after a shot inside the small area.
