Nigerian forward Toni Payne was a force to be reckoned with as she played a pivotal role in helping Sevilla Femenino to a dominant 3-0 home victory over Levante Las Planas Femenino in matchday 20 of the 2023-24 Spanish female Liga.
The game started with Levante showing early aggression, pressing forward in the first 15 minutes and testing Sevilla’s defense. However, it was Sevilla Femenino who struck first, with Cristina Martín-Prieto finding the back of the net in the 40th minute with a powerful right-footed shot, beautifully assisted by Amanda Sampedro.
Despite Levante’s continued efforts to equalize, Sevilla’s solid defensive display kept them at bay. In the 40th minute, Sevilla doubled their lead after an own goal by Levante’s Allegra Poljak following a scramble in the box from a corner kick.
Throughout the game, Toni Payne was a constant threat on the flanks, tormenting Levante defenders with her pace and skill. She came close to extending Sevilla’s lead in the 43rd minute with a right-footed shot from the right side of the six-yard box, but Levante’s goalkeeper denied her after a precise through ball from Amanda Sampedro. In the 66th minute, Payne’s left-footed shot was blocked following a well-executed pass from Pamela González.
Sevilla continued to push for a third goal, and their efforts paid off in the 75th minute when Pamela González capitalized on a cross by Débora García to make it 3-0 for the home side.
With this win, Sevilla Femenino climbs to 6th place in the Liga F table. Their next challenge will be against 9th-placed Granadilla Tenerife, a team featuring Nigerian stars Gift Monday, Rinsola Babajide, and Esther Okoronkwo.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Toni Payne and Sevilla Femenino as they strive to climb higher in the league standings and continue their impressive form in the Spanish female Liga.
