Nigeria defender Rita Chikwelu was a rock in defence as Madrid secured a surprising 1-0 win at the home of former champions Atletico Madrid on Sunday afternoon.
Super Falcons ace Chikwelu featured in her seventh league match of the season and was impressive as coach Óscar Fernández’s ladies recorded their first clean sheet in five games, despite playing the last third with ten women.
Three-time Primera División Femenina winners Atletico were well placed to claim their seventh league win of the campaign, having lost just one of their ten matches played before kickoff – a 3-0 defeat at champions Barcelona.
But Macarena Portales’ 17th-minute effort proved to be the decider for the visitors at Estadio Wanda Atlético de Madrid Alcalá de Henares, even after Madrid’s goalkeeper received her marching orders on the hour-mark.
Elsewhere in Slovakia, Nigerian youngster Abdurahman Taiwo scored both of Zemplín Michalovce’s goals, but homers Trencin fought back late to earn a 2-2 draw at the Stadion Pod Dubnom.
The 22-year old attacker found the back of the net in the 12th and the 22nd minutes of the encounter to hand the visitors a fine advantage into the halftime break.
But goals from Tucny and Corryn within the match’s last eight minutes helped the home recover from a losing position.
