Last Saturday night, December 16, 2006, at the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga, Esperanza’s Gentle Touch Strikers defeated the host team, Griga Ambassadors, 2-1 in a penalty shoot-out to claim the Belize Female Football Competition Committee’s 2006 title.
Griga Ambassadors went up early when Dorita Valerio took advantage of a defensive error and scored in the 9th minute of play after beating the Ranza goalkeeper, Eden Gentle, in a one-on-one. Three minutes later with Griga on the attack, Aretha Flores took a shot that was too difficult for Eden Gentle to control after making the initial save. Dorita Valerio was too quick with the tap-in as Gentle scrambled for the ball.
Gentle Touch got off to a slow start but managed to regain their composure after falling behind 2-0. In the 25th minute of play, Indira Spain made a long cross to Abby Halliday, who danced through the defense with some fancy footwork and shelled the Griga goalkeeper, Sherene Vasquez. The score was eventually tied at 2-2 when Gracia Guerra slammed home a poor defensive clearance from outside the 18-yard box.
In second half action, Gentle Touch had the slight advantage in terms of possession. Both sides had a few golden opportunities to score, but could not capitalize.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes of regulation play, desperation began to set in for Griga Ambassadors, who were trailing 3-2 on aggregate. Griga’s National Primary School MVP striker, Nataki Alvarez, began taking several powerful long range bombs from well outside the 18-yard box. The Cayo goalkeeper had difficulty controlling Nataki’s shots.
In the 68th minute of play, Gentle Touch goalkeeper made another difficult save on one of Nataki Alvarez’s missiles. The Gentle Touch defense was unable to clear the ball from the danger zone and Denise van Stuivenberg, who came in on a late substitution, collected the ball and blasted a hole in the net from point blank range.
Regulation play ended shortly after with the host team Griga Ambassadors in front with the 3-2 score; which meant a draw in aggregate, and overtime for the championship.
The first overtime session was dead-even.
In the first minute of the second overtime session, Gentle Touch sweeper Kendra “Peaches” Gentle fouled Dorita Valerio inside the 18-yard box. Valerio converted the ensuing penalty kick to complete her hat-trick and give Griga the 4-3 lead on aggregate. But the Griga Ambassadors began to show signs of exhaustion. In the closing minutes of the second overtime session, Cynthia Salazar made a key pass to superstriker Abby Halliday who was fouled by defender Lisa Smith as she entered the 18-yard box. As cool as the other side of the pillow, Halliday converted the crucial penalty kick to force the penalty shoot-out.
In the penalty shootout, Griga Ambassadors trailed 2-1 heading into their 5th and final attempt. Aretha Flores blasted a shot that went center-mass. But the Gentle Touch goalkeeper, Eden Gentle, stood her ground and made the instinctive stop, though suffering a fracture in her left-middle finger. Gentle forgot all about the pain as teammates and fans hoisted her on their shoulders in celebration of their dramatic victory.
Congratulations to Esperanza’s Gentle Touch Strikers on winning their first title and to the Griga Ambassadors, the sub-champions..
Individual Awards:
Most Goals – Dorita Valerio (Griga Ambassadors)
Best Defense – Kendra Gentle (Gentle Touch Strikers)
Best Midfield – Shirley Codd (Gentle Touch Strikers)
Best Forward – Abby Halliday (Gentle Touch Strikers)
Best Goalkeeper & MVP – Eden Gentle (Gentle Touch Strikers)