Andorra Open Commitments With Victory Over Moldova

Andorra came back from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory over Moldova in their opening UEFA Women’s Nations League match in Group C1. Irina Topal scored for Moldova, before Marina Muelas and Sonia Del Barco completed the comeback for Andorra.

Team News

Moldova’s Nicolae Bunea started with Evghenia Dumic in goal. The coach opted for a back-four with Madalina Badiceanu and Felicia Gutu at its centre, while Anastasia Sivolobova and Valeria Virlan occupied the flanks. Irina Topal partnered captain Cristina Cerescu in front of the defence, while Anastasia Toma occupied the number ten role. Nadejda Colescnicenco and Claudia Chiper were deployed on the wings, while Iuliana Colnic led the attack.

Meanwhile, Andorra’s coach Jose Antonio Martin opted for Luna Vazquez in goal. He also opted for a back four with Neus Rosas and Erica Goncalves in its centre, while Paula Rosas and Laia Sin provided the width. Captain Marina Muelas partnered Maria Da Cruz in central midfield, while the width was provided by Iria Dominguez and Sonia Del Barco. Teresa Armengol supported Maria Ruzafa in attack.

The match was dedicated to the late Moldovan defender, Violeta Mitul.

Moldova Get Early Start

The home side had the early spell of possession but struggled to get to a position to trouble the Andorran goalkeeper. On the other hand, Andorra’s Teresa Armengol did well to draw a foul to hand Andorra a chance to put the ball into the box in the opening five minutes of the match. Erica Goncalves decided to strike from distance but got too much power in the shot sending it above the crossbar.

Marina Mueles delivered a good ball into the box in the eleventh minute for the Andorrans, but Moldova’s defence were first to clear the ball. A few minutes later, Maria Ruzafa surged forward on the right wing, but her cross into the near post was also dealt with by the Moldovan back-line.

The home side regained control of possession on the quarter hour mark. Anastasia Toma responded with a delivery of her own, but Luna Vazquez cleared her lines. Meanwhile, Claudia Chiper started to get more involved in the match out on the wing.

Moldova found the opening goal shortly after. A long-distance shot from Anastasia Sivolobova was cleared by Luna Vazquez who got distance into the clearance but sent it straight into the path of Irina Topal, who sensing the goalkeeper off her line struck immediately into the bottom left corner to send the home side into the lead.

Andorra’s Equaliser

Having gone a goal down, Andorra sought out set-piece opportunities to make their mark. A deep delivery toward an unmarked Marina Muelas could have gotten Moldova into trouble but she failed to make the connection.

However, the captain struck sweetly from a central free-kick from around thirty yards out a minute later, to level the scoring. The strike bounced right in front of the goalkeeper, before nestling into the left side of the goal.

Moldova showed good character to try to immediately nudge themselves into the lead through Claudia Chiper. She made a deep run along the byline before putting another ball into the six-yard box but Andorra’s defence was alert to it. A minute later the side also hit the crossbar with a strike from distance.

Although Andorra’s defence got some relief through a corner kick, the visitors could not extend their lead, while the hosts kept piling forward. Long-range efforts from Cristina Cerescu called Luna Vazquez into action but she got enough on them to deny the Moldovan captain. Meanwhile, the goalkeeper was also quick to sweep an attempt to get Iuliana Colnic behind the back line.

The visitors created a good opportunity late in the half but failed to get a touch on a good cross into the box, allowing Evghenia Dumic to make it hers.

Half-Time Score: Moldova 1 – 1 Andorra

Andorra Complete Comeback

Andorra made one change at the break, bringing on Maria Moles instead of Iria Dominguez. The side were almost handed a free pass in the fifty-second minute when goalkeeper Vazquez made a short pass almost straight into Andorra’s Maria Da Cruz. However, the defensive line were quick to close out the Andorran to deny her an opportunity to shoot. A few minutes later Ruzafa made a good run out wide before diving centrally for a strike from distance but it lacked the accuracy to trouble the goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, Moldova kept putting themselves in a position to attack on the wings with attempts to get runners behind. The sixty-third minute saw Chiper make another run across the byline but no one made the run at the far post to meet her cross. The number eleven was a bright spark for the Moldovans but the side struggled to convert her good creation into goals.

Nicolae Bunea freshened up the attack in the sixty-fifth minute, bringing on Daniela Mardari and Carina Doiban instead of Iuliana Colnic and Claudia Chiper. Meanwhile, Andorra’s Jose Antonio Martin responded by bringing on Noa Gallinat Civico in replacement of Laia Sin.

Andorra almost struck gold from another set-piece opportunity shortly after. Though Moldova cleared the first ball, a recycled delivery got Armengol free on goal, but she failed to make the connection for the first time volley which allowed Dumic to make it hers.

The team kept up the attack with attempts to launch long balls behind the Moldovan defence as the hosts tried to push for a winner. Meanwhile, Moldova’s Bunea looked to his bench once more on the seventy-five minute mark, bringing on Anastasia Cernitu in replacement of Anastasia Toma.

However, it was the Andorran’s who struck from another set-piece. Captain Marina Muelas delivered a ball from the centre of the pitch, which caught most of the Moldovan defence completely switched off allowing three Andorran runners to close in on goal. The ball struck Sivolovobova who was outnumbered three to one, before falling to an unmarked Sonia Del Barco. She struck with venom from close range into the bottom right corner which beat the keeper despite her getting some fingertips on it.

Moldova attempted to respond immediately through Nadejda Colescnicenco but once again no one followed up on her cross allowing the opportunity to go begging. Both coaches looked to their benches, with Andorra’s goalscorer Del Barco making way for Miriam Tizon Fernandez in the latter portion of the match. Meanwhile, Moldova’s Colescnicenco and Marques gave way to Bibiana Correa and Mihaela Catarau for the final throes of the match. Despite this, the hosts could not capitalise on their set-piece opportunities in the seven minutes of injury time.

Final Score: Moldova 1 – 2 Andorra

Next Matches

The UEFA Women’s Nations League matches in Group C1 will continue next Tuesday 26th September. Moldova will next travel to Malta where they will battle it at the Centenary Stadium at 20:00. Moldova will seek their first points, while Malta will go into the tie aiming to earn the maximum points from the two opening matches, following their victory over Latvia in the opening match. Tickets for that game may be purchased online or at the door.

Meanwhile, Andorra will welcome Latvia, with kick-off set at 19:00. Similarly, Andorra will hope to continue their winning streak, while Latvia will be searching to convert their opportunities in search of their first points.

Lead Image: Andorran FA

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