LIGA F
Linda Caicedo makes league debut for Real Madrid Femenino
The Colombian has caused a media frenzy since her transfer to the Spanish side and on 4 March she made her debut for the club.
Linda Caicedo (Candelaria, Colombia, 2005), made her much anticipated debut for Real Madrid Femenino in Liga F in the 1-5 win against Alhama El Pozo. The Colombian star is just 18-years-old yet her signature has been sought after ever since she broke on the scene with Deportivo Cali and led Colombia to the u-17 World Cup final last year.
Victory on the world stage for the South American was not to be, with Kenio Gonzalo’s Spain side, led by FC Barcelona’s Vicky López, claiming the trophy, but that was only the beginning of the story for the youngster that would soon explode into new dimensions. The media have swirled speculation around everything from her wage to her late change of agent, showing just what a media presence the player has at such a young age.
Linda Caicedo finally signs for Real Madrid
After clubs across Europe and beyond vied for her signature, the Deportivo Cali player finally struck a deal with Real Madrid, who promptly pushed the transfer through after huge interest of interest from FC Barcelona and Chelsea: Linda signed for the Madrid club on 25 February and had her first training session a few days later.
“There’s so much I want to achieve. I want to achieve big things here and perform at the highest level”, she said upon signing for Las Blancas. Nelson Abadía, the head coach of the Colombia u-17 national team welcomed the move, saying It’s an important step forward for Colombian football - not just the women’s game, but Colombian football in general. It’s really significant that Linda is making this kind of impact on the game. From the point of view of Colombian women’s football, it’s terrific to see.”
The Colombian makes her debut
She made the squad for the Liga F away game against Alhama El Pozo, and had to wait until the 75th minute to make her debut, in a 1-5 win at the Estadio José Kubala. Goals from Caroline Weir, Maite Oroz and Athenea gave Madrid a 3-1 lead at half-time, and after the break, despite an attempted comeback from Alhama in the form of a barrage of chances, Esther’s goal to make it four just after the hour mark settled the game. After this point, manager Alberto Toril decided that he could afford to make changes and told Linda to warm up. Ten minutes later, she was on the pitch for the first time as a Real Madrid player.
Maite made way and Linda stepped onto Alhama’s artificial turf, immediately making a positive impact from the left wing position after receiving the ball from Nahikari in the box, only to get her feet muddled up and send the low shot wide from close range. But the flickers of quality didn’t stop there: a minute later, she took the ball down from the air with all the grace of a figure skater; four minutes after that she almost turned provider, setting up a chance for Nahikari after a bursting away from the defender, reading Zornoza’s return pass excellently well.
A positive start for Linda
Caicedo switched to a more central position for the final few minutes, where she continued to create danger. She stole the ball high up the pitch from an opponent and drove forward, skipping past challenges and shifting the ball to her right, before rifling a shot just over the bar. There was no goal or assist for Linda on her debut, but, as they say in Spanish, great sensations. An own goal a minute later sealed the three points for Real Madrid Femenino, who are now fully aware of just how much of a star they have got in their hands.
- 1 Laura Martínez
- 2 Olivia Oprea (45')
- 15 Raquel Morcillo
- 4 Judith Caravaca
- 3 Lena Pérez
- 8 Daniela Arques (69')
- 19 Marina Martí (45')
- Aldrith Quintero
- 11 Kuki (69')
- 17 Carmen Fresneda (82')
- 9 Jade Boho
- Substitutes
- 5 Érica Sastre
- 13 Noelia Gil
- 30 Clara Roman
- 21 Lucía Martínez (69')
- 7 Andrea Carid (45')
- 14 Nerea Vicente (82')
- 23 Raquel Pinel (69')
- Astrid Álvarez (45')
- 24 Charity Adule
- 1 Misa
- 5 Ivana Andrés
- 23 Sofie Svava
- 18 Lucía Rodríguez
- 15 Claudia Florentino
- 3 Teresa Abelleira (67')
- 22 Athenea del Castillo (83')
- 21 Claudia Zornoza
- 8 Maite Oroz (74')
- 11 Caroline Weir (83')
- 10 Esther González (74')
- Substitutes
- 27 Carla Camacho (83')
- 13 Méline Gerard
- 2 Kenti Robles
- 19 Linda Caicedo (74')
- 24 Freja Olofsson (67')
- 16 Caroline Møller (83')
- 9 Nahikari García (74')
Substitutions
Astrid Álvarez (45', Olivia Oprea), Andrea Carid (45', Marina Martí), Freja Olofsson (67', Teresa Abelleira), Raquel Pinel (69', Kuki), Lucía Martínez (69', Daniela Arques), Linda Caicedo (74', Maite Oroz), Nahikari García (74', Esther González), Nerea Vicente (82', Carmen Fresneda), Carla Camacho (83', Caroline Weir), Caroline Møller (83', Athenea del Castillo)
Goals
0-1, 2': Caroline Weir, 0-2, 20': Maite Oroz, 1-2, 40': Kuki, 1-3, 41': Athenea del Castillo, 1-4, 63': Esther González, 1-5, 87': Nerea Vicente
Cards
Referee: Paola Cebollada López
Raquel Morcillo (23',Yellow) Olivia Oprea (31',Yellow) Esther González (33',Yellow) Astrid Álvarez (74',Yellow)
