Frazsiers Whip clip Cavalier 2-1 in enthralling JWPL KO final
Published:Sunday | May 14, 2023 | 1:48 AMOrane Buchanan - Staff Reporter
THE XAVIER Gilbert-coached Frazsiers Whip lifted their first club title, registering a 2-1 extra-time victory over Cavalier in the final of the Jamaica Women’s Premier League Knockout(JWPL KO) competition yesterday at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.
Frazsiers Whip drew first blood, taking the lead as early as the seventh minute from an Asanti Lewis own goal. Buoyed by their energetic left back, Shanhaine Nelson, Cavalier erased the deficit in the 14th minute on the back of her stunning free kick.
With both teams keeping each other at arm’s length, Cavalier had a great chance to win the game with the final kick of regulation time but failed to capitalise as Frazsiers Whip goalkeeper Italya Robinson pulled off a great save to send the game into extra time.
In the extra-time period, chances were few until the final minute of play when Frazsiers Whip’s Nevillegail Able had the opportunity to score via the penalty route but was denied by the upright.
The deadlock was finally broken in the very last minute of extra time.
Cavalier goalkeeper, Danielle Flake, mishandled a cross inside the box. Able would redeem herself, calmly slotting home the loose ball from close range.
Head coach of the winning team, Xavier Gilbert, was happy with lifting the title but saw areas where there is need for improvement.
TOUGH ENCOUNTER
“It was a good game of football as we did well tactically and played smart. However, we didn’t exploit some of the areas that we wanted all because we weren’t patient enough. We expected a tough encounter because it’s a final and this is a team that dominated their group. We knew that the test wasn’t going to be easy, we have technical players who can move the ball but again, at times, we had plays where we were too erratic. This is something that we have to sit down and do better at,” said Gilbert.
Everdean Scarlett, head coach of Cavalier, said despite losing a hard-fought final against a very good Frazsiers Whip team, he was proud of what he saw from his players.
“It’s always disappointing losing a final but I think my team came out and played an excellent game. I can’t be too hard on them. I’m very proud of them and I must take my hat off to them. It’s not easy to play a Frazsiers Whip team.”