MADRID, 4 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid were eliminated from the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday after losing on penalties to Norwegian side Rosenborg (3-2) in the qualifying phase 1 of the competition, in a match played at Arsenal’s training ground in Borehamwood (England).
The team led by Víctor Martín ends their European journey after a match in which they took the lead with a goal from Fiamma and dominated the Nordic team, but a goal from Holum tied the match and took them to extra time. In extra time, another goal from the Norwegians, scored by Tomter, forced them to equalise at the last minute with a goal from Lauren Leal to force penalties, where errors from Ortemin, Pinto and Medina left them out of the competition.
From the start of the match, the red-and-whites were clearly dominant, especially incisive on the right flank where the Nigerian Rasheedat Ajibade attacked. This good start was rewarded in the 19th minute, when, precisely from a cross from the African from the right, the ball reached Fiamma completely alone at the far post after a pass from her teammate Gio Garbelini. The Spaniard did not forgive and scored the first goal.
Minutes later, another connection between the Alicante-born player and the Brazilian was close to becoming 2-0, but Garbelini failed in the one-on-one after the great pass that the former Valencia player filtered in for her. Before the break, the colchoneras had a few more chances that they did not finish, and they were very focused on defence without giving the Nordic team the slightest chance.
After the break, Rosenborg tried to threaten Lola Gallardo with some dangerous attacks that led to corners, but they did not pose too many problems for the Madrid team, who took advantage of the Norwegians’ attempt to push up the lines to quickly launch a counterattack.
From there another clear chance arose for them, who again left Gio Garbelini completely alone in front of the Rulyte goal, but he failed to finish again. The entrances of Luany Vitoria, Sheila Guijarro and Tatiana Pinto from the bench gave Atlético the impetus to continue getting closer to the second goal, but they would not get it, being forced to reach the final stretch defending that 1-0.
That lack of definition ended up condemning them in the 91st minute, after a free kick on the edge of the area was finished off by striker Holum completely alone. The match went into extra time after 90 minutes in which the red and whites had been clearly superior, but were unable to translate that dominance onto the scoreboard.
Things got more complicated in extra time, when another defensive error following a set piece allowed Rosenborg to take the lead through captain Tomter, who took advantage of a loose ball in the area that was poorly cleared by Lola Gallardo.
This setback forced the Colchoneras to score at least one goal in the second half of extra time to avoid being eliminated, and with that objective they turned to Rulyte’s goal. After several wasted chances, they were rewarded in the 118th minute after a cross into the area by Ainhoa Moraza that Lauren Leal put in with a subtle touch.
The tie was decided in the penalty shoot-out, where Atlético de Madrid did not start well after Rosa Otermín missed the first shot. The Madrid team could have equalised the match after scoring the next two, and Marcussen missed. However, Tatiana Pinto missed the fourth, and Harviken did not miss his. In the decisive one, Andrea Medina sent the ball over the goal, giving Rosenborg the victory.
The European dream of the capital team has ended prematurely, as for the fifth consecutive season it will not be present in the final phase of the top European competition for women’s clubs.
The Norwegian team will face the winner of the duel between the Londoners and the Scottish team Rangers LFC this coming Saturday at Arsenal’s training ground. If they win, they will qualify for the second qualifying round, the last one before the group stage, in which Real Madrid will compete, the only Spanish team still alive in the preliminary stages of the competition. For its part, FC Barcelona has secured its place in the group stage as the champion of the last edition.