In a Basque derby that crackled with intensity and culminated in the most dramatic of finishes, Real Sociedad W and Athletic Club W battled to a pulsating 1-1 draw. The match, held at the Instalaciones de Zubieta, seemed destined for an away victory until the final seconds of stoppage time, when Nerea Eizaguirre showed nerves of steel to convert a penalty, ensuring the spoils were shared in this fierce Primera División Femenina contest.
The final scoreline of Real Sociedad 1 – 1 Athletic Club W tells a story of a game that was a slow burn before exploding into life. For over an hour, the two rivals were locked in a tense, tactical stalemate, with neither side able to break the deadlock in a goalless first half. But as the second half wore on, the game opened up, and it was Athletic Club who struck first, with D. Agote finding the net in the 66th minute. It was a goal that felt decisive, a potential match-winner that silenced the home crowd and put the visitors on the cusp of a vital three points.
However, football so often provides moments of unbelievable theater. Real Sociedad, refusing to accept defeat, threw everything forward in the closing stages. Their relentless pressure finally paid off deep into injury time, winning a penalty in the 96th minute. Up stepped N. Eizaguirre, with the weight of the derby on her shoulders. She made no mistake, coolly slotting the ball home to spark scenes of wild celebration and rescue a precious point for her side, a testament to their unwavering spirit and belief.
The Basque derby simmered for an hour before exploding into life, a cagey contest transformed by a flurry of second-half drama. Athletic Club Women struck first, but Real Sociedad refused to fold, snatching a point with the final kick. The tone shifted on 59 minutes when Irene Oguiza was booked, a sign of rising intensity. Sociedad responded immediately with a double substitution, A. Aparicio and C. Marcos injected to freshen the midfield and attack. Athletic countered with their own changes, introducing L. Banos and A. Azkona, and within four minutes the visitors were rewarded: D. Agote broke the deadlock on 66 minutes, finishing coolly after Azkona’s assist.
Sociedad shuffled again on 71 minutes, withdrawing M. Molina and Nerea Eizaguirre for N. Aparicio and I. Eguiguren, but the game grew scrappy. Azkona, already influential, was booked for unsportsmanlike conduct, with L. M. Rodriguez Herrero cautioned in the same passage of play. Managers turned to their benches once more in the 78th minute, searching for decisive influence, but the rhythm was broken further when M. Valero picked up a yellow card for Athletic. Just when defeat seemed inevitable, Sociedad found salvation. Deep into stoppage time, with the clock at 90+6, Eizaguirre stepped up from the spot and converted with ice-cold precision. The stadium erupted in heartbreak for Athletic, heroism for Sociedad as the derby ended level, a contest defined by substitutions, cautions, and one last-gasp penalty.
For 95 minutes, Athletic Club had executed its game plan to near perfection. They absorbed pressure, stayed organized, and seized their moment when it arrived. The goal from D. Agote, created by the impactful substitute A. Azkona, was a reward for their disciplined and clinical approach. They looked set to manage the game out and claim a huge derby win on the road.
Yet, the game was ultimately lost for them, or rather, drawn in a moment of late desperation from the hosts and a lapse in concentration from the visitors. Real Sociedad’s refusal to give in is what earned them a point. They gambled in the final minutes, pushing bodies forward and challenging the Athletic defense relentlessly. This sustained pressure led to the critical error that resulted in the penalty. It was a cruel blow for Athletic Club, who were seconds away from victory, but a deserved reward for a Real Sociedad side that embodied the timeless football lesson: play until the final whistle.
Top Performers
Nerea Eizaguirre (Real Sociedad ): The undeniable hero of the match. To step up in the 96th minute of a heated derby and calmly convert a penalty takes immense courage and technical skill. Her goal single-handedly changed the narrative of the game from a disappointing loss to a spirited, hard-earned draw.
D. Agote (Athletic Club W): The forward was sharp and clinical when her chance came, scoring a well-taken goal that looked for all the world like the winner. Her movement and finish were top-class, and she was a constant threat.
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