Rasheedat Ajibade’s goal, assist helps Atletico Madrid into the Copa de La Reina quarter-finals

• The exciting Nigerian attacking midfielder was the star of the show as the former champions zoomed into the last eight after a convincing win

Super Falcons ace, Rasheedat Ajibade was the crucial difference-maker for Atletico Madrid as the three-time Primera División Femenina winners sealed a fine 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad to advance to the quarter-finals of the Copa de la Reina on Thursday evening. 

Ajibade provided the assist to Atletico's first goal and netted the second in a closely-fought encounter inside the Instalaciones de Zubieta in Donostia-San Sebastián.

Atletico Madrid have not had it great against Real Sociedad in recent times, winning just one of five games played against the Basque Country-based side since 2021.

But after an opening 45 minutes that was evenly balanced, Ajibade provided the crucial final pass for Marta Cardona to fire past goalkeeper Elene Lete and hand Atletico the all-important lead at halftime.

As expected, the hosts returned from the break with renewed vigour but Ajibade pounced on a decent pass from Banini and produced a fine finish on the hour mark to double Atletico's advantage.

It was Ajibade's first goal of the year 2023 and the first time she is finding the back of the net since netting four goals in a 5-0 demolition of Sporting de Huelva back in October.

Rasheedat Ajibade joined Atletico Madrid in January 2021, with the Nigerian forward winning the Supercopa Femenina and the Trofeo Ramon de Carranza trophy since.

The 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations top scorer is however still in the hunt for her first Copa de La Reina and Primera División Femenina titles.

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