Alabama Soccer in the Pros: 2018 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers
4/11/2018 11:20:00 AM | Soccer
Celia Jimenez Delgado helped the Spanish National team to an undefeated weekend
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Former Alabama soccer standout, Celia Jimenez Delgado, led the Spanish National team to an undefeated weekend, blanking Finland, 2-0, on April 6 and shutting out Austria, 1-0, on April 10 in the 2018 FIFA Women's World Cup UEFA qualifiers group stage.
Seven groups of five teams each comprise the playing field for the UEFA qualifiers. The winners of each group will punch their ticket to the 2019 FIFA World Cup in France.
Spain currently leads Group 7 with 15 points, winning every game in the group stage thus far. Austria, Finland and Serbia are tied for second with seven points, while Israel sits at fifth with one.
At right outside back, Jimenez Delgado spearheaded the defensive front as Spain did not concede a goal throughout the weekend to keep the team in the running to clinch a spot in the World Cup.
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's journey to the 2019 World Cup continues with three more group-stage matches through September. Spain will face Israel on June 7, Finland on Aug. 31 and Serbia on Sept. 4.
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.
