Thanks to a strong performance from their defensive spine, the women in purple were never really worried by a prudent King’s team, winning 2-1 in the long-awaited game.
Carried by Sarah Van Vurst’s technical superiority, UCLWFC established control in the midfield from kick-off. The number 16 from across the pond was the metronome of the team, shining through her serenity controlling the ball and dictating switches of play.
The midfielder also showed her defensive solidity in the first half, winning consecutive 50/50 challenges. Her great all-round performance prompted a fellow member of the UCL media in the press booth to exclaim: “Van Vurst ?… more like Van Best!”
Irene Martínez, UCLWFC’s Spanish center back, also impressed from the kick off. Indeed, her authoritative slide tackling and repeated defensive interventions continuously denied KCL’s forwards from attempts on goal
But despite UC’s strong back line, the first clear chance of the game came from King’s around the 22nd minute. For the first time of the game, the opposition’s pacey striker received a good through ball but was denied in her one-on-one against UCL goalkeeper Emily Baker.
Baker, whose fabulous journey from midfielder to goalkeeper was previously reported in CG91 (p.3), did not fall short of expectations built off the back of her strong season. Remarkably quick to rush out of from her goal towards King’s forwards, she won three of her four one-on-ones and was celebrated with her own personal chants by UCL fans:
“We have a goalie, her name is Emily. She catches every ball, she makes the opponents fall, she’s what need to win us Varsity. Emily! Emily! Emily! Oi! Oi! Oi!”
Apart from their striker, the main danger from King’s was their left-winger, Maya Ahlden. The number 11’s footwork gave UCL right-back and co-captain Grace Gadeke a hard time throughout the game. Tension drastically rose between the two at the 21st minute when they became mired in a pushing contest right in front of the fans, earning both a verbal warning from the referee.
In the 29th minute, Gadeke received a yellow card after fouling Ahlden who had once again dribbled past her. The co-captain later explained in her post-game interview: “I just had to show [Ahlden] I was stronger than her.”
UCLWFC’s first goal came from a corner at the 42nd minute, when center-back Maeve Barve profited from a poor King’s clearance, opportunistically pushing the ball in the back of the net. With UCL’s goal celebrations silencing KCL chants, the delighted purple-clad crowd in attendance at the Hayes & Yeading stadium began chanting: “you’re not singing anymore!”
The game lost some of its rhythm after the break as the stadium floodlights were finally turned on.
UCL found some breathing room through a 61st minute goal from their number 9, Gabby Halpin. The midfielder crucified the King’s goalie from 10 yards after the latter saved a shot, but parried the ball back into the middle of the box.
Twenty minutes later, Martínez sealed her Player of the Match-winning performance with a fantastic clearance which might haunt KCL’s right-winger for a long time. With Baker once again saving a shot during a one-on-one following a sweeping counter-attack, the ball bounced on the right side of the box, leaving the Red right-winger in front of an empty net. What should have been an easy goal was, however, prevented by Martínez’s impressive comeback and slide-tackle.
When the King’s player finally decided to go all out in the last minutes, UC co-captain and striker Ava Langridge failed to put the game to bed in an expeditious counter-attack, dusting her opponent in her sprinting through the opposite half.
Overall, the striker had a complicated game with the ball, but her usual relentless pressing and runs had the King’s defenders constantly on edge. The mental impact of the striker’s activity could be observed during King’s offensive corner, when all four Red defenders always stayed behind to defend on the lone Langridge.
A consolation goal came in the dying moments of the game, with King’s striker rewarded for her repeated deep calls to make it 2-1. This came too late to change the final result, however, and UC came away with a well-deserved victory.
After the game, final year Langridge emotionally told reporters this was “100% her biggest win for UCLWFC.”
This was also one of the largest attendances for women’s football in university sport this season, with approximately 1000 fans crowding the stands for the game.
The Cheese Grater Player of the Match trophy is awarded to Irene Martínez.
