Women’s National Team

Martín-Prieto's dream come true

The Sevillian fulfilled her wish to make her debut with the Senior Spain Team and also rounded off her first start with a goal.

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Sat, 26/10/2024 - 11:17

What a night it was in Almendralejo. An unforgettable day for Cristina Martín-Prieto, who had confessed on many occasions that her dream was to play for the national team and score a goal in the red of Spain. Well, that dream came true on this cold night in Almendralejo.

The Sevillian, with her family in the Francisco de la Hera stadium, took the field in the 73rd minute, fulfilling her dream of making her debut with the national team. And only minutes later, after a couple of very dangerous chances, the Benfica striker scored her first goal for the national team. It was a goal that ultimately secured a draw against the Canadians.

At 31 years of age, Martín-Prieto is at her peak and in extraordinary goal-scoring form. This call up from Montse Tomé has caught her in the middle of a purple patch of form and Cristina responded in the way she knows best.

From the moment she stepped on the pitch, replacing Alba Redondo, she had two clear chances to score her first goal with the national team but she had to wait for the third opportunity to beat D'Angelo. The Canadian goalkeeper could do nothing about Martín-Prieto's shot from Ona Batlle's cross. Such was Cristina's energy and hunger for goal that, despite there being only a few minutes left on the clock, she never stopping pushing on.

So much so that Montse Tomé, at the end of the match, praised her figure and the magical moment in which she finds herself, defining her as such: ‘Martín Prieto has natural characteristics to move into spaces and generate space for others. She's a player with a nose for goal and a natural instinct to move in the box. She has a lot of desire and has come out with a lot of energy to help us’.

Curiosities of fate, the two goals scored today in Almendralejo were scored by two Benfica players. Marie Alidou for Canada and Martín-Prieto for Spain.

This season has been sweet in front of goal. With her club she has scored four goals in the last few games she has played. Today's goal was scored wearing the Spanish national team colours and, in doing so, she has fulfilled a dream. The one in Almendralejo has been ‘her great night’.