Moravia’s Karla Villalobos (pictured) also appeared in three matches for Costa Rica in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Winning one international title is impressive enough, but to repeat as champion in the same competition … well, that qualifies as something special.
Last month, Moravia topped UNAN Managua, 2-0, in the 2017 Central American Women’s Inter-Club Championship final to retain the crown it captured a year earlier. In fact, the Costa Rican side is the only champion in the tournament’s two-year history.
“It is a great emotion,” Moravia forward Karla Villalobos told CONCACAF.com about the triumph. “It’s something that, in truth, one cannot explain because we never thought to arrive at so many achievements in such a very short time!”
Moravia posted an overall mark of 3W-0D-1L (13GF, 1GA), including an 11-0 win over El Salvador’s Legends in the group stage, setting a new tournament record for the most goals scored in a single game.
“This team is characterized by being a family,” said Villalobos, when asked about the keys to success at the six-team event in Nicaragua. “We work a lot and we connect as a team, each contributing what each had to give…from the bench’s support as much as those who played.”
Interestingly, Moravia lost its second (and last) group game for the second consecutive year, but ultimately lifted the trophy on both occasions. Villalobos didn’t read too much into that factual peculiarity.
“They are life’s coincidences and a very curious fact,” she remarked after being told of that statistic, adding, “but the important thing was to play smart.”
Villalobos scored four goals to become the Central American Women’s Inter-Club’s all-time leading scorer with six in total, including a stoppage-time winner in the 1-0 semifinal victory over Aguilas de Leon. Despite those meaningful accomplishments, she prefers to have the spotlight directed on the team rather than herself.
“Well, it's a nice thing knowing that you can contribute to the team in that way,” expressed the humble Villalobos. “The important thing was to have reached the final and of course win it.
“In my sports career, I have enough goals. Other than that, the most important thing for me is the possibility to play, have fun and to be able to contribute in any way.”
Now for the big question: can Moravia “three-peat” next year? Villalobos promised that she and her teammates will continue to do their best.
“Work, effort, discipline and commitment,” the 31-year-old finished. “I believe that they will always achieve things and for these things we are going to work.”
