After suffering defeat on Wednesday, Atlético Madrid and Rangers- two teams who have only met once before with a 2-0 Atlético victory- were back in action at the Mangata Pay Stadium see to play for the consolatory third place in this mini UWCL qualifying group. Regardless of the outcome, neither team could progress in this year’s competition.
Atlético Madrid were expected to join Arsenal in the evening’s decider for the opportunity to progress into the competition, but a late defeat to Rosenborg BK on penalties, following a 2-2 draw after extra time, left them without a chance at Champions League football for the fourth consecutive season.
Rangers arguably had the tougher of the semi finals the other night, after being drawn to Arsenal; the highest seeded team in the competition. But after failing to respond to the mere 1-0 deficit at half time, they were left on the sorry side of the 6-0 thrashing by the Gunners, and more specifically Caitlin Foord.
The third place play off was largely unsettled for both teams, but Atlético’s relentless pressure and constant movement of the ball, paired with their impactful substitutions, opened the floodgates to a comfortable win in response to their semi final disappointment. For Rangers, it is a similar tale to Wednesday, after failing to counter the marginal 1-0 deficit at half-time, they were once again overrun in the ninety, without registering a single goal.
The Lineups
ATM: P.Larque, Xenia, Jensen, Gaby G, Sheila, R.Otermin, Tatiana P, Fiama, Barth, Emma M, Naara
RFC: Fife, Docherty, Eddie, Hill, Middag, Hay, Howat, Hardy, McAulay, McLoughin, McLeary
Referees: M.Vekkeli, H.Hyvonen, I.Ramanauskiene, R.Grigone
The Action
An end-to-end first half was largely characterised by an indecisiveness amongst both teams. The combination of clumsy challenges and cheap giveaways made it evident that this was a consolatory match.
Atlético Madrid started the game with dominance. Their combination of quick feet, dynamic passing and long-ball vision, enabled them to maintain a high press, as Rangers struggled to leave their own half. But momentum swiflty balanced as Rangers found rhythm and registered the first shot of the game, albeit easily collected by Larque.
Both teams lacked the final ball, with unnecessary shots outside the box, and crosses that were almost impossible to get on the end of. Whilst anything on target was easy for either goalkeeper to collect.
It took 42 minutes before either goalkeeper was troubled, and until then it looked like Rangers were the more likely to break the deadlock, as their accurate passing through midfield propelled them goalwards with several chances on various occassions.
But it was Atlético Madrid who finally capitalised from their persistent drives down the right, when a shot from Jensen on the right handside of the box curled into the side netting beyond the reach of Fife, giving them the narrow lead going in at half time.
The second half commenced with the same unease seen in the first half, but as the substitutes for both teams were introduced around the hour mark, it was the double substitution by Atletico that injected life into the red-and-whites. A formidable piece of skill by Gio down the left wing saw the need for a double save by Fife, who could do no more than push Guijarro’s rebound into the back of her own net, giving Atlético Madrid a comfortable lead, and a restoration of confidence after 64 minutes.
Just ten minutes later, it was Gio again, who helped put the game to bed after showing her prowess of exploiting the left hand side with her pace once more. It was well kept in initially by Otermin, who did well to offload the ball for Gio to drive wide down the flanks, but moreso it was her persistence when in the box to maintain possession that provided the third goal, as Boe Risa effortlessly slotted it home.
The Stats
Goals: 42′ Jensen (ATM), 64′ Guijarro (ATM), 77′ Boe Risa (ATM)
Yellow Cards: 44′ Howat (RFC), 45+2′ Eddie (RFC), 65′ Miranda (ATM)
Red Cards: N/A
Looking Forward
Atlético Madrid’s Liga F 24/25 season commences on Wednesday 11th September at home to Grenade, and they will be looking to improve on their third place finish last season and close the gap with the Spanish giants of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Whilst for Rangers, their 24/25 SPWL 1 season has already started, and they remain undefeated after their five opening games, seating them at the top of the table. The next match for the light blues is at home to Spartans on Sunday 15th September.
The Halfway Line’s player of the match: Gio Queiroz
