Third place in Pattaya, decided on penalties again
The last tournament of the season, played without the regular goalkeeper and under FIFA nine-a-side rules for the first time, ended with a third penalty shootout in a row.
Saturday 27 May, the Rugby School U14 Invitational in Pattaya. We met outside the school at eight in the morning.
It was the last tournament of the season, the last for three of the girls before their families move abroad, and the first for two new players. It was also the club's first competition under FIFA nine-a-side rules, and we were without our regular goalkeeper, who was ill - so outfield players took turns in goal all day.
When the other squads arrived, most of their players were a head taller than ours. Ours are 11 to 14, and only two of them are 14.
First game against NIST: 3-0, three good goals. Second against a professional academy from Pattaya: we had our chances and lost 0-2, having played well. Third against the hosts: our best football of the day and a 1-0 win from a well-worked move.
That set up the last group game against the tournament favourites, who had won everything in front of them. They were too strong and we lost 0-4 - and came off it with more experience than we went in with.
So, the third-place final, against the hosts again, who wanted the game back. Eighteen minutes, nothing between the sides, 0-0. Five minutes of golden-goal extra time, still 0-0. Penalties - our third shootout in a final in a row. The girl who had gone in goal that morning saved two of them, we missed one, and twelve players came away with another trophy.
Afterwards everyone went for food together and went back through the day. Bring on next season.
