The FC Malaga City Femenino have followed up their undefeated regular season by bringing home the provincial championship in Malaga last weekend after beating Alhaurin De La Torre 7-2 in the final 2 games. Each round of the playoffs consisted of one away match and one home match - the team with the highest goal count over both games moves on to the next round. The strong international side was led by head coach, Miguel Aquino, who has an impressive resume previously working with Granada and Malaga FC as well as being a tactical analysis for multiple first division Spanish teams. Aquino’s attention to detail on the tactical side of the game has allowed the girls to dominate on the pitch throughout the season and into playoffs. FCMC Femenino took on CD Union Deportiva Antequera away in extremely windy conditions which proved difficult for both teams and the game ended 0-0. This meant it was all or nothing in the second game which the girls played at home and managed to win 6-0 with Carolyn O’Reilly and Tayla Christensen finding the net 2 times as well as Katie Lampen and Bella Viana. Next up was the semi-finals, were our Femenino side was drawn against a tough and resilient Torre del Mar side in which we took home a 3-0 win away with Addie Galek, Katie Lampen, and Bella Viana finding the net. The second leg of this match up was secured with another 3-0 win where our back line dominated and goal keeper Marilena Spagnolo did well to keep a clean sheet. In the final leg of the provincial playoffs, FC Malaga City Femenino faced Alhaurín de la Torre away and despite the convincing 5-0 win for the girls, they were a very strong opponent and the girls did well to prevent them scoring while also maximizing their chances in front of goal. Going into the final game with a 5-0 lead, we finished a tough 90 minutes 2-2 where the girls battled to the final whistle and managed to come out with a 7-2 lead across both games which crowned them as provincial champions. One of our biggest preparation could not happen without strength and conditioning coach, Alavaro Echevarne Gomez, who has been focusing on getting the girls physically prepared while also preventing injuries over a 10-month season. Alvaro has been working with the girls on and off the pitch to make sure they are prepared for the rigors of the post season play which will continue 3 months after their last regular season game if they make it to the final.
Captain Parker Lee is proud of the girls for how they competed and knows the girls are not ready to stop just yet, “I couldn’t be happier for the girls and this is a huge milestone we have ticked off - but we have our eyes set on promotion and we will keep working until we get there.” There are a number of new players joining FCMC Femenino over the remaining 2 months of season which will help keep training competitive and push the girls to the end of the season. The next stage is the quarter finals where they will play another team who respectively won their provincial final in Andalucía.
FCMC Femenino 2021/2022 Playoff team Goalkeepers
Marilena Spagnolo, Aiyanah Tyler-Cooper
Defenders
Parker Lee (C), Skye Lewis, Tyairra Loughlin, Maddison North, Ellie Paris, Maaike Rahms.
Midfielders
Lorena Bardera, Imman Elberdi, Addie Galek, Katie Lampen, Carolyn O’Reilly, Hannah Reynolds, Evelyn Selser, Bella Viana, Ella Wilson,
Forwards
Tayla Christensen, Sofia Iaderosa, Maya Ridge
Backroom Staff
Head Coach: Miguel Aquino
Physical Preparation Coach: Alvaro Echevarne Gomez
Goalkeeping Coach: Javi Munoz
Team Physio: Nick Abbott
Logistics Manager: Pedro Florez Gomez
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