It was a disturbing case of déjà-vu for Providence Girls College yesterday as Debe High cruised past the North Zone champs 3-0, yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain for the second time in consecutive years in the Trinidad final of the BGTT Girls InterCol competition.
The defeat was a brutal one for Providence, as it seemed that Debe weighed entertaining the audience as much as they did a victory. From the warm-up, it was evident that Debe was a team with a purpose and the presence of Debe’s five national players was felt as it executed to perfection, while maintaining the style and flair for which it is well known.
It was apparent that Providence coach, Richard Hood, had done his work where tactics were concerned as his side looked the part and showed a little of what got them to the final. What he clearly did not plan for however, was Debe’s merciless brute force that kept Providence keeper, Nadia Nunes on her toes and the Providence players largely off the ball.
Nunes was forced to make a save as early as the 9th minute, when U-17 player, Kayla Taylor’s dynamic skill got her close enough to launch a shot on goal which Nunes did well to deny. Six minutes later, a free kick by Shade almost put Debe ahead, but three attempts by three different players, could not find the back of the net. The attacks on goal continued until Taylor’s superb placement from a corner kick, found her U-17 team mate Patrice Vincent, who easily nudged the ball into the goal to put Debe 1-0 up.
Then in the 36th, Shade showed her strength and experience by blasting through the Providence defence and Nunes to hold her nerves and put her team 2-0 ahead. A minute later, Akeisha De La Rosa had an opportunity to score for Providence having finally evaded Vincent who had silenced the prolific striker throughout the entire match, but she was unable to connect with the cross that came right in front of the post.
In the second half, Debe came out even stronger and launched shots from any angle the ball found itself at their feet while Taylor continued to exhibit her playful brilliance that often sent the crowd in an uproar.
Ng Wai eventually sealed the match in the 67th minute for Debe with a well placed shot, after evading a defender and Nunes. The South Zone, National SSFL and Trinidad InterCol champ will now face Signal Hill Government on a date to be announced in hopes of defending the triple crown for a second consecutive year.