Spain she found herself before South Korea. The national team won (5-0) in a quiet match, in which they dominated from start to finish and in which Montse Tomé was also able to perform several tests. The doubts and the crisis of the world champions hovered, after the last results and the new fire, but they managed to avoid what would have been another fire in a match in which we saw again using the football that this team us had shown. has.
They did it with goals of Claudia Pina that he returned two years later with the absolute team; of Amaiur Sarriegi, of Aitana Bonmati and of Vicki Lopez, with a doublet. At halftime the situation was already more than under control, with a crushing 3-0, which allowed the coach to continue introducing pieces and giving them some rest before the duel against France. In Nice, it will be a friendly match between two of the best teams in the world, but it will bring other sensations after the victory in Cartagena.
Even though the South Koreans seem like easy rivals, they are among the top 20 in the FIFA rankings. It is true that the difference in level is obvious, but the defeats have greatly affected Spain, not only because of Tomé’s technical decisions, but also because important footballers like Alexia, Athena either Salma They are injured.
This led the coach to try a team in which the defense was the most innovative, as well as the attack, where the only recognizable one was Mariona. Furthermore, it also provided an alternative to Nanclares under sticks, keeping Codine in the axis of defense, with the novelty of Offers as a companion and with She And Ouahabi on the sides. In the center of the field, he protected himself with Therese, Galet And Aitana, in attack, they appeared Pineapple And Amaiur as a new one with the aforementioned captain Mariona Caldentey.
Pina comes back in a big way
The match could not have started better for the Spaniards. Claudia Pina who was returning to play a match with the senior team after being part of the group of 15 players who forfeited their 2022 call-ups, it took four minutes to give the national team the lead. He took advantage of a cross from Mariona to reach the far post and go in with everything, making the score 1-0.
It was supposed to be a party and, the truth is that the atmosphere could not be better in Cartagena, where there were shy whistles for Tomé when the eleven was announced over the PA system, but where the supporters delivered in a big way, carrying a team that He needed the warmth of his team to reconnect with his football and especially with victory. And they started to do it. Opportunities continued to present themselves against an ineffective Korea, which could do nothing against a roll.
Spain’s performance against Korea
However, as on many other occasions, the goal was resisted. No matter how hard they tried through Amaiur, Mariona, Pina or Aitana, the second one took a long time to arrive. Until Guijarro entered the area alone and gave way to Amaiur Sarriegi. The Txuri-Urdin striker’s first shot hit the post and ended up inside the goal.
After half an hour of play, Spain improved and comfortably beat Korea. And he was still missing Aitana appear. After playing the entire first half with Mariona in a constant exchange of passes, the opportunity to score a goal presented itself and he did not waste it. It was Teresa who sent a deep ball to the Ballon d’Or winner, who crossed the ball, preventing Kim from reaching the goal.
The third put the finishing touches on an excellent first half, leaving open the possibility that Tomé would continue trying plays in the second half. That’s what he did. Vicki Lopez She was the first to jump on the grass, for Guijarro, and it will be the fourth for the Spanish team. The Golden Girl took advantage of a bad start from the goalkeeper on a corner to capture the rebound and send it in.
They also entered Jana Fernández, Maca Portales, Martín-Prieto, Zubieta And Bruna Vilamala. The rotations only kept the national team at full capacity in the South Korean region. They all wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and find their moment. Special mention for Portales, who overflowed from the left and wanted to be the protagonist, even if he did not find the goal or the assist.
Yes, he found it Vicki Lopez. During the last play of the match, the Barça player took advantage of a ball in front to make a powerful and placed shot with which she put the finishing touch. Five goals that allow Spain to breathe and dispel doubts about Montse Tomé after leaving the sacred cows aside.