Matchday 32, it’s 70 mins on the clock, Real Madrid Femenino, currently second on the table, are 2-0 down against Real Sociedad at home. On the line are not just three points but a potential birth to play European football next season. What unfolds in the next 15 mins will forever be etched in Real Madrid’s history.
In the 70th min, Maite Oroz plays a through ball into the right half-space, which is attacked by Marta Cardona, who times her run well and crosses it at the far post. Kosovare Asllani, making a run, slots it home. 1-2. All is not lost yet!
It’s 81 mins on the clock, Jessica Martinez, who came on as a substitute, chests the ball down for Maite at the edge of the box. Maite identifies the space and the run of Kenti Robles, who goes 1-on-1 with the GK and puts Real Madrid level. 2-2. THE COMEBACK IS ON!
Three mins later, Olga Carmona makes a run down the left flank and puts a ball right at the heart of the box. Jessica rises above all to meet it and heads it down into the net. 3-2. COMEBACK IS COMPLETE!
Real Madrid Femenino won in the best way
In 15 mins, Real Madrid Femenino snatched a victory from what seemed like an inevitable loss and a dent to their second-place league finish. The team didn’t give up, substitutes rose to the occasion and directly changed the game.
We achieved our season goal with a Remontada. We did it “The Real Madrid way”.
From facing Barcelona in our opening league fixture and losing 4-0 in our very first game to beating Atletico Madrid away from home being a player down for more than 80 mins with a goal from Jakobsson. From countless goals being ruled out for all sorts of reasons to Maite thumping one in with power and frustration alike against Rayo Vallecano.
From Asllani scoring the first goal, first brace, and the first and fastest hat-trick EVER in the club’s history to her bleeding on the pitch after a clash. From Misa’s brave and valiant efforts to keep opponents at bay to her red card and tears against Barcelona. From Olga’s last-ditch tackle against Madrid CFF to keep the game level to her cross against Real Sociedad to secure the UWCL.
From Cardona’s thunderbolt strikes to her cheeky backheel. From Kenti’s celebration before a goal is scored to her orchestrating the comeback against La Real. From Ivana Andres’s vocal leadership to her aggressive tackles. From Babett Peter’s calmness in the backline to celebrating the derby win with her kid at Atletico’s home.
Real Madrid have the second-best attack and second-best defense
From scoring a 95th min header against a frustrating Santa Teresa to our heartbreaking exit in the Copa de la Reina against Madrid CFF in AET. From being outclassed by Real Sociedad to thrashing 8 against Espanyol. From Maite’s control to Teresa’s freekick. From ever-present Kaci to Malena’s injury. From Claudia putting her body on the line while defending to Jessica rising the highest to score headers.
From a nationwide movement, “Misma Pasion”, to a fan-led joke that caught up with the squad “Flash Cardona”.
From scoring the second-most goals in the league to conceding the second-fewest amount of goals. It’s been a team effort.
We have witnessed history being written right in front of our eyes. Every matchday we saw a new chapter being added to this memorable journey so far. With every win, we got closer to our goal of achieving European football. Every day this team kept adding history. We saw the embodiment of the phrase “The Real Madrid shirt is white, it can be stained of sweat, dirt, and blood but never of shame”, we saw our players fight and give it their best against all odds.
This team, this squad, this group of players will forever be remembered. Some players arrived when Real Madrid was just a dream and laid the work, then reinforcements arrived and they laid out the foundation of what Real Madrid Femenino will become. They are the pioneers.
And this is REAL MADRID FEMENINO!