Levante endured a night of frustration in the first qualifying phase of the Women’s Champions League after losing a seemingly controlled game 2-0 to Twente (3-2). However, what attracted the most attention in the game was not the defeat itself, but a controversial move that marked a crucial turning point in the game.
The Levante players were two goals ahead of Twente when Twente began a move that has caused controversy in the world of football. It was the moment when the Dutch players, in a supposed gesture of sportsmanship, passed the ball back to Levante after a break due to an injury to one of their players.
What happened next left a bitter taste in the mouths of many. Twente’s Renate Jansen took advantage of the opportunity and, in a controversial decision, decided to shoot at goal when Levante players Antonia and Silvia Lloris let the ball pass for it to be intercepted by Levante goalkeeper Emma Holmgren. The result was a goal that changed the course of the game, despite obvious protests from the Spanish team players.
The attitude of the Twente players during this action did not go unnoticed, with many describing the game as “unsporting”. Levante coach Sánchez Vera was quick to express his dissatisfaction with what had happened. In his statements after the game, he noted: “A ball that we threw away due to an injury, that Twente gave us back badly, we kept looking, and they shot from midfield.”
Despite this controversy, Levante was eliminated and will not be able to take part in the tournament that all players dream of: the Women’s Champions League.
