Former Alabama Soccer Player Wins 2018 Cyprus Cup
3/29/2018 2:12:00 PM | Soccer
Celia Jimenez Delgado leads the Spanish National Team to its first Cyprus Cup title
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Former Alabama soccer standout and Spanish National player, Celia Jimenez Delgado, won the eleventh edition of the Cyprus Women's Cup on March 7 at AEK Arena in Larnaca, Cyprus. The 12th-ranked Spanish National Team clinched the tournament title for the first time in its history after blanking Italy, 2-0, in the finals.
Spain won its group, accumulating seven points after recording a 2-0-1 mark. Spain topped Austria, 2-0 (Feb. 28), tied with Belgium in a scoreless decision (March 2) and silenced Czech Republic, 2-0 (March 5), to earn a spot in the first-place match.
At right outside back, Jimenez Delgado spearheaded the defensive front as Spain did not concede a goal throughout the entire tournament to capture the title.
In January, Jimenez Delgado was selected by the Seattle Reign FC in the fourth round as the 36th overall pick of the 2018 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Draft. Jimenez Delgado was one of four players selected from the Southeastern Conference and is the first player in Crimson Tide history to be drafted into the national league. In the fall of 2017, she snagged First Team All-SEC honors as well as earning Second Team NSCAA All-Southeast Region accolades. Jimenez Delgado became the Crimson Tide's first all-conference honoree to be named to the First Team since Justine Bernier in 2010 while being the first NSCAA second team selection since Merel van Dongen in 2012.
Up next, Jimenez Delgado and the Spanish National Team will continue competition in the 2018 FIFA Women's World Cup UEFA qualifiers in Group 7. Spain will face Finland on April 6, and will later battle Austria for the second time on April 10. In the first meeting, Spain dominated Austria, 4-0, on Nov. 28, 2017.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaSoccer on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaSoccer on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
