HS SOCCER (2024-2025 SEASON)(二） - 体育赛事 - 深圳瑞得福学校 - 给孩子优质的教育是父母最好的投资

HS SOCCER (2024-2025 SEASON)(二）

2025-04-05 451 体育赛事

HEARTBREAK IN THE FINAL: EAGLES FALL IN SUDDEN DEATH SHOOTOUT

3/31/2025

Our girls suffered the cruelest possible ending, losing the championship final in a dramatic sudden death penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw against VMA at the end of regulation time. The nerves took a toll on our shooters, who missed eight of their nine penalty attempts. Ann kept the team alive by saving seven shots (plus another one in the first half of the match), but in the end, VMA took the prize.

The match started as expected: the hosts and reigning champions defended with four and even five players on the edge of their box, relying entirely on long balls for their number 10 and 11 to capitalize on any mistakes from our girls. As always, the Eagles came out with an attacking mindset, controlling possession and looking for the opponent’s goal. Joyce and Zoe led the early attempts, but it was VMA who had the first big opportunity—a penalty for a handball in the box that Ann saved brilliantly.

Immediately after, Alex—who was tightly marked throughout the game--scored the 0-1 after a great combination with Joyce in attack and a well-placed shot from the edge of the area. We had taken the lead; we had done the hardest part. The game remained the same, with VMA defending and RDF pushing for a second goal, but the home team managed to equalize 1-1 after a long ball, where their forward got the better of Zoe after a bounce.

After halftime, and also in extra time, the pattern remained unchanged: the Eagles attacking through Alex, Rue, and Joyce or creating chances from strategy with Zoe and Teodora. Helen and Larissa did a great job in midfield, while Sophie and Tisa were outstanding in defense. Ann had to step up a couple of times with crucial saves, and Alex came inches away from scoring the winning goal in the 37th minute with a shot that skimmed the post. Before that, Rue and Joyce’s attempts were denied by the home goalkeeper, the best player on their team.

VMA achieved their goal of reaching the penalty shootout, but our girls were confident they could win the championship. Unfortunately, nerves and tension took their toll on our shooters, with Alex being the only one to convert from the spot. Joyce hit the crossbar, while Ann continued to save every VMA attempt. The shootout turned into high drama when, after both goalkeepers had taken their shots, sudden death continued with the same shooters repeating in the original order until a winner was decided.

We can feel nothing but pride for our girls, who finished the season unbeaten and came within inches of gold. A championship that, by all merits and style of play, would have been a fair reward but slipped away in a coin toss. Next season, we will try again.

瑞得福国际学校 RDFIS

WE'LL PLAY FOR THE GOLD!

3/25/2025

瑞得福国际学校 RDFIS

History in the making for our HS Girls Soccer team after qualifying for the final for the first time in RDF's history. It was a hard-fought match in which our girls had possession of the ball and control of the game for 39 minutes, but that ended with three consecutive corner-kicks for Basis. Although these were the only chances the Tigers had during the match, a silly ball could have easily sent the game into extra time.

Our girls started without Teodora, who couldn't play yesterday due a twisted ankle, and with Alex still limping after having fever for a few days prior the match. Our youngster couldn't show her best version on the field and Rue came out of the bench to give her a break for most of the game. With Sophie and Tisa perfectly stopping any attempt from Basis, Helen and Larissa doing a great defensive job on the midfield, and Zoe hogging the ball to start the offense, the Eagles dominated but lacked of that last pass that cleared the way to the goal.

It was Joyce, with a crossed shot from the right side of the goal box, who scored the goal that gave us advantage and ended giving us the pass to the final. That happened right before half-time and it was a fair reward for both teams' performances on the field.

Second half continued with our Eagles looking for a second goal that widened the gap, but Rue, Joyce and Zoe were unlucky or denied by the Tigers' goalkeeper. The closer the end was, the more the tension grew amongst our players despite keeping the control of both the ball and the match. A long ball from Basis defense ended in a corner within 90 seconds of the game left, and our players struggled for three times to kick the ball away from our goal. It was on that third attempt that Joyce managed to clear the ball from the box and close the game.

Our girls and coaches celebrated on the field, shook hands with Basis, and started to prepare the final against the current champions, VMA Sharks, who will also have a home field advantage as host of Boys and Girls Finals. Nobody said it was easy, but we'll do our best to bring the gold to Dapeng.

瑞得福国际学校 RDFIS