SAN JOSE — FC Barcelona is the titan of women’s soccer, winners of the past two Champion’s League crowns and five consecutive domestic titles.
Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí and Clàudia Pina lead a peerless attack that often headline victories by five- or six-goal margins against European rivals.
The three aforementioned stars did not start for what was a preseason friendly against Bay FC, but great talents such as Keira Walsh, Fridolina Rolfö and the prolific Caroline Graham Hansen were still in the lineup.
And in Barcelona’s first-ever game in America, Bay FC lost 5-2 but gave the visitors everything it could handle on Tuesday night at PayPal Park in front of 14,187 supporters.
“The standard for women’s football and evolving and growing,” Bay FC defender Abby Dahlkemper said. “I think it’s incredible for the Bay Area to have 15,000 come out and show up on a Tuesday night.”
Two late goals by Barcelona in the final few minutes made the game appear more lopsided than it really was.
Only a couple days removed from a 2-1 loss to Utah that dropped the team’s NWSL record to 6-11-0, Bay FC featured a revamped lineup with a new face that was still familiar to local fans.
Dahlkemper, the 2010 California’s Gatorade player of the year at Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton, got the start at center back for the local team. She led a spirited first-half defense alongside DM Kiki Pickett and fellow defender Emily Menges.
Asisat Oshoala, a former Barca star, created the home team’s first great opportunity when she got past her initial defender and cut a pass back across in the fifth minute. Unfortunately for Bay FC, nobody made a convincing run and the game remained scoreless.
That was until the 17th minute, when Oshoala picked off a careless pass from Barca keeper Gemma Font. The striker took one more touch in the box, then slotted her shot in the low near post for a 1-0 lead.
“(I enjoyed) playing against some old friends, and it was an amazing game,” Oshoala said before remembering her goal and adding, “It was fun, it was like I was in training.”
1-0 | That right foot tap GOOOOLLLL DE @AsisatOshoala! #BayFC scores in the 17th minute. #BAYvBARÇA #BLegendary #WeCameToPlay pic.twitter.com/yFMcNVSwDH
— Bay Football Club (@wearebayfc) August 28, 2024
That lead lasted about two minutes.
Barcelona showcased its trademark quick-strike ability as winger Ewa Pajor beat her defender down the right flank and crossed the ball into the box. Bay FC’s defense failed to cut the pass off or clear it, giving Kika Nazareth the chance to equalize.
The speedy Tess Boade, playing in more of a midfield role, got a chance to show her pace in the 32nd minute when she got on the end of a long ball from a winger and got a solid strike on goal.
That shot got saved, but Racheal Kundananji was right there to tap in the rebound for a 2-1 Bay FC lead. But just like the first goal, Barcelona quickly equalized a few minutes later. Hansen finished a quick one-two on the right side of the box to tie the game at 2-2 in the 35th.
Bay FC emptied the bench in the second half. Meanwhile, Barcelona brought in Pina and Marta Torrejón.
Despite the talent deficit – most evident by Barcelona’s ability to maintain possession with ease – Bay FC maintained a solid defensive shape.
Reserve goalkeeper Emmie Allen drew raucous roars from the home crowd when she saved a shot on a two-on-one counterattack, then blocked the ensuing rebound to keep the game tied at 2-2 in the 64th minute.
“Last year, I was in college and above my headboard I had a Barcelona logo because that’s where I wanted to play,” Allen said. “So it’s kind of surreal a year later to be playing against them.”
Barcelona finally broke through in the 67th minute thanks to a Esmee Brugts header on a set piece.
After taking a 3-2 lead, Barca manager Pere Romeu brought in Spanish legends Bonmatí and Putellas for the final 20-ish minutes of the match. Pina and Patri Guijarro tacked on two more goals to give Barcelona a deceptively one-sided victory.
Bay FC will resume its regular season schedule against visiting Portland Thorns on Friday.
