Striker Alania Burgin scored four goals in the Lucky Bakery National Women's Super League, at the Barataria Oval on Saturday, steering defending champions Real Dimension to an 8-1 triumph over Arima Giants.
Giants had started this year's competition with a 5-1 win over Tunapuna Titans, but wilted in the second half against Real Dimension, in wet conditions.
Powerful striker Ashley Mark looked Giants' most potent attacking force and gave the Arima girls a 1-0 lead, against the run of play, in the 26th minute.
Real Dimension keeper Chantel Roberts gave Mark a "gift " when missing an easy clearance and allowing the striker to score in an open goal with a low shot from an angle.
But Real Dimension were in front 2-1 by the time the half ended, national Under-20 players Afiya Mathias (37th) and striker Natasha St Louis (40th) both scoring from inside the penalty area.
Burgin and winger Jamila Mathlin, both former Trinidad and Tobago national senior team players, dominated the second half, combining for all six goals scored.
Burgin netted in the 50th, 59th, 69th and 90th minutes. And having set up many of the Real Dimension raids, dominant winger Mathlin twice went down the left flank to score at the near post--in the 67th and 75th.
Earlier, Burgin missed a sitter when shooting over the bar in the first half. But when poor defending gave her the ball in the penalty area, she made the score 3-1 in the 50th.
Burgin chested down and volleyed home a corner kick for her second goal, and got a third when Mathlin found her in the penalty area. Burgin further punished the Arima team by scoring the final goal of the match.
With every goal she scored, Burgin took off her jersey and went away celebrating, with her teammates racing behind her.
Though under pressure for long periods, the young Arima team had a few chances to get another goal.
At the start of the second half, striker Shaumalee Govia took a touch too many, and struck the Real Dimension post. The score was just 2-1 at the time.
And having almost totally given up, when trailing 7-1, Giants produced two late chances. Govia was clear up the right, but goalie Roberts atoned for giving away the first goal by brilliantly pushing away the shot.
And later on, Joleen Smith was clear and about to go around the Real Dimension keeper when taken down at the edge of the penalty box. However, she only won a free-kick.
Lucky Bakery National Women's Super League Resukts
Saturday July 2
Real Dimension 8 (Afiya Mathias 37th, Natasha St Louis 40th, Alania Burgin 50th, 59th, 69th, 90th, Jamila Mathlin 7th, 75th), Arima Giants 1 (Ashley Mark 26th)National Under-17 Women's Team 1 (Zoey Swift), Defence Force 0
Friday July 1
Malick City 6 (Talisha Vire 21st, 35th, Tishan Miller 15th, 41st, Jennette Wilson 60th, Akeela Oliver 85th), Tunapuna Titans 1 (Shandelle Fortune 76th)
San Juan Jabloteh 2, Trincity Nationals 1
FIXTURES
Friday July 8
San Juan Jabloteh vs Malick City, Barataria Oval, 5 p.m.
Tunapuna Titans vs Real Dimension, Barataria Oval, 7 p.m.
Saturday, July 9
Defence Force vs Edinburgh 500, Chaguaramas, 4 p.m.
Trincity Nationals vs North Coast United, Barataria Oval, 4 p.m.
National Under-17 Women's Team vs Arima Giants, Barataria Oval, 6 p.m.
Burgin bangs in beaver against Arima.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Arima went up 1-0 when Ashley Mark found the back of the net in the 27th minute but their fortunes took a turn for the worse when Matthias and Natasha Louis scored in the 36th and 39th minutes respectively.
Beginning the second half with the score on 2-1, Burgin struck in the 49th, 51st, 58th and 89th minutes to take the game away from Arima. For good measure, Matthias scored another in the 53rd while Jemila Mathlin added one in the 66th. With the win, Dimension moved to the top of the standings with six points in two games.
Round Two Scores
Tunapuna Titans 1 (Shandelle Fortune 35th) vs Malick City F.C 6 (Talisha Vire 21st, 35th, Tilan Miller 15th & 41st, Jenette Wilson 60th, Akeela Oliverie 85th)
San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Jinelle Kissoon Penalty 30th, Shantelle Walcott 49th) vs Trinicity Nationals 1 (Annalis Cummings 67th)
Real Dimension 8 (Alania Burgin 49th, 51st, 58th, 89th, Affiya Mathias 36th, 53rd, Natasha St Louis 39th, Jemila Mathlin 66th) vs Arima Giants 1 (Ashley Mark 27th)
North Coast United 0 vs Edinburgh [500] 3 - (Default)
Defence Force 0 vs National U-17 1 (Veronica Swift 41st)
TEAMS P W L D GF GA GD PTS
Real Dimension 2 2 0 0 9 1 8 6
San Juan Jab 2 2 0 0 5 1 4 6
National U–17 2 2 0 0 3 0 3 6
Malick City FC 2 1 0 1 7 2 5 4
Arima Giants 2 1 1 0 6 9 3 3
Edinburgh 500 2 1 1 0 3 3 0 3
Trincity Nationals 2 0 1 1 2 3 -1 1
Defence Force 2 0 1 1 0 2 -2 1
North Coast Utd 2 0 2 0 0 5 -5 0
Tunapuna Titans 2 0 2 0 2 11 -9 0.
Standings at the end of Round Two are submitted
Schedule of Round Three Matches:
Friday
Malick City FC vs San Juan Jabloteh
Tunapuna Titans vs Real Dimension
Saturday
Trincity Nationals vs North Coast United
Arima Giants vs National U–17
Defence Force vs Edinburgh 500