Time for our Girls to play at another Tournament. On May 13th, Hua Hin Academy invited us to play in this all-girls Tournament. 4 Teams were signed up, Hua Hin Football Academy, Ascot Football Academy, Hua Hin International School, and our Lions FC.
When we arrived at True Arena Hua Hin at 9 am the sun was already out and the heat was on! 35C on the pitch. From the beginning, we made sure that our Girls were well hydrated and we saw Parents running around with an ice-cold Water spray. At 9:30 am we were called to do a Group Photo with all Teams. You can clearly feel the excitement in every Player.
The Format was that every Team has to play each other twice and put the scores into a league Table. After 6 games the top 2 will play the Final and the bottom 2 play for 3rd place. Due to the heat, the organizer decided on a 1x12min game, which was more than enough.
First up was HHA, a very competitive Team, managed by Coach Ben, the organizer of this tournament. Aida and Vanessa scored two beautiful goals for a 2:0 win
Next up is Ascot Football Academy. We never played them before, so we run onto the pitch with due respect. Their players looked fit and a bit older them ours. Nevertheless, Aida score a double before AFA got 1 Goal in. It was a 2:1 Victory for us.
Lions FC vs. Hua Hin International School ended 0:0. We had good chances, but failed to score. 1 point for us.
Now we start the 2nd round of our Games and played HHA again. It was a great game with no winners. 0:0 again.
Next up was Ascot again and their coach made some changes and it showed on the pitch. AFA scored the first goal and we were behind 0:1. Coach Panu brought Iris on the field and BANG! She scored after a nice Solo. The game ended in another draw 1:1.
Before the last group game against HHIS started, we already knew that we qualified for the Final. We played a very good game and managed to score 4 Goals. Iris scored twice, Vanessa and Hannah once.
Ascot Football Academy managed to beat HHA 1:0 in the last Group game, which put them into the Final against the Lionesses. Before the Final HHA and HHIS played for the 3rd Place, which went to Hua Hin Football Academy.
The Excitement was high and both Teams did everything possible to win the first Hua Hin Girls Trophy. 7th minute. Aida dribbled on the left side and passed to Vanessa, it looked like she can go through the defense, but got stopped only by a foul. Roughly 16m from the Goal. Layla decided to take the free Kick while our other player took a position in the box. AFA put 3 players in the wall. Layla took aim and fired a massive freekick around the right side of the wall into the right corner of the Goal. 1:0. AFA increased their pressure and through a well-executed counter attack scored the equalizer. 1:1 after official Time meant Penalties! 3 players to nominate to shoot. Vanessa, Aida, and Emma with Pinky in Goal. AFA is to shoot first, but Pinky safes it..! Here comes Vanessa, our Captain who hammered the Ball on the crossbar. Next up AFA and the Ball went over the Goal. Aida was up next, she took aim at the left corner, and,….hit the sidebar. Still no Goal. Up next was AFA and everyone on the sideline was sweating, not only from the heat but also out of nervousness. A very hard shot to the left, Pinky has her fingers on the Ball, but it went in. It was all on Emma. At the recent Harrow Tournament, she scored the winning Penalty. She put the Ball on the spot, aimed the left corner, and a fantastic save by AFA Goalkeeper! Game over. Ascot Football Academy is the new Champion of Girls’ Football at the Hua Hin Tournament. Our Girls took it professionally and congratulate a worthy Winner by high 5 everyone!
A fantastic hot Day in Hua Hin ended with a Team Lunch on the Beach before everyone headed back to their extended weekend.
