US Tour opens with a win

FC Barcelona opened their US Tour with a 5-2 victory over Bay FC at PayPal Park in San José (California). It might look like the team won comfortably, but they were actually behind on two occasions before things ended in solid fashion. It continues a winning start to the preseason that thus far has been wins all the way against Hoffenheim, Montpellier, AC Milan and now the side from San Francisco.

Goals each way

The opener was scored by an old friend in Asisat Oshoala, the Nigerian international who played at Barça for several years and who hasn’t lost any of her magic touch. It took just three minutes for Kika to hit back off a Graham assist but the scores were only level for a few minutes before Kundananji pounced on a rebound to re-establish the American lead. This manic period of goals at both ends then saw Patri level things up at 2-2, before things quietened down in time for the interval.

Party time

While the first 45 minutes had been end-to-end drama, the second half was a much quieter affair, and by the end of regulation time we had only seen one more goal. But what a beauty it was! With Barça finally starting to impose their game on the home side. Mapi León finally put the visitors in front for the first time by scoring directly from a corner kick.

The ninety minutes were almost up when Pina was able to extend the lead, and two minutes into injury time Patri nabbed a fifth. Two goals that made the final score look far more one-sided than the game had really been.

That win now behind them, the Barça women will now face Dallas Trinity at the Cotton Bowl Stadium before they head back to Catalonia.

 

MATCH STATS

BAY FC, 2
BARÇA, 5

Bay: Rowland, Dydasco, menges, Dahlkemper, Moreau, Pickett, Bailey, Boade, Kundananji, Oshoala, Hill (starting XI) plus Conti, Castellanos, Anderson, Beattie, Allen, Malonson, Brewster, Shepherd, Doms, Paulson.

Barça: Gemma, Maria León, Jana, Graham, Rolfö, Pajor, Kika, Schertnleib, Wlash, Engen, Caño (starting XI) plus Celia Segura, Aitana, Alexia, Patri, O. Batlle, Szymczak, Pina, Vicky, Brugts, Marta.

Goals: 1-0, Oshoala (min.18); 1-1, Kika (min. 21); 2-1, Kundananji (min 32); 2-2, Patri (min. 35); 2-3, Mapi León (min. 68); 2-4, Pina (min. 90); 2-5, Patri (min. 92).

Referees: Adorar Monroy, Felisha Mariscal, Salma Pérez.