Brent Schools’ FA’s Under 14 Girls put on a tremendous display to emerge as 2022 Brent Super Cup Champions.
The annual tournament played at Ark Elvin Academy, the former school of superstar Raheem Sterling, in the shadow of the Wembley Arch, has become an fixture on the sporting calendar for the Brent football family. Brent were runners-up last time around, narrowing losing out to QPR and this year’s competition was always going to be keenly contested.
Brent opened the tournament, which was played on 23rd July, with a 1-0 win over Cricklewood Wanderers. Zoey De Sousa Mantas scored with a long-range thunderbolt into the top corner after good work by Kate Fox who gained possession in midfield and provided an inch perfect pass.
Next up were Youngs FC. The whole team played well, with Brent’s Olivia MacArthur and Talia Pitish defending superbly. The game ended as a draw. The final group game pitted Brent against Kinja. Kinja took the lead and Brent showed great spirit fighting back and it was Zoey De Sousa Mantas again who scored giving Brent a well-deserved equaliser.
It was then that the drama started to unfold. Youngs had beaten Cricklewood, securing them a place in the final . Brent and Kinja were level on points and goal difference so a semi-final play-off was agreed to decide who would have the remaining place in the final.
The semi-final was an extremely tight affair that ended 0-0, meaning the match would be decided by three penalties each. Brent missed the first adding pressure. Brent keeper Aoife Murphy then saved two in a row. Zoey De Sousa Mantas scored and Talia Pitish blasted in the final penalty to put Brent into the final.
The final was an end to end affair as both teams fought for the all-important first goal. Excellent defending by both teams limited scording opportunities and the game finished level meaning it would be settled by penalties. First up Christies Morris-Zazzara coolly placed her pen into the bottom corner. Brent’s second was well saved but again Brent keeper Aoife Murphy saved Youngs’ second (below). Talia Pitish stepped up and sent a rocket into the top corner making it 2-1 Brent. Youngs third penalty was well taken but Brent keeper dived and pushed it over the crossbar, sealing the win for Brent.
To cap the day, Brent’s industrious midfielder Kate Fox was given the Player of the Tournament award and the firepower of Zoey De Sousa Mantas clinched the golden boot. Penalty hero, goalkeeper Aoife Murphy was selected by team mates to take the trophy home.
Brent coach Ben Usher said: “I am so proud of the way the girls have worked all season. It is great that they were rewarded today. All of the squad contributed. It was a great way to end the season.”
Brent: Aoife Murphy, Brooke Dyke, China Nansi-Philip (capt) Christie Morris-Zazzara, Kate Fox , Marielouise-Aniela Abiola, Olivia MacArthur, Sasha Silberbauer-Bray, Talia Pitish, Zoey De Sousa Mantas