Two last minute penalty corner masterstrokes from Jemma Ferreira saw St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls pull off a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Steyn City at the St Dunstan’s Easter Sports Festival this morning (April 19).
Ferreira scored her first goal on the stroke of half-time and grabbed her brace two minutes from fulltime to help her team hold onto the top spot in pool B, in what was their hardest match of the competition.
“It feels good getting my team to the finish line. It was a team effort. I couldn’t have done it alone. It was my teammates who put in the work to try and get the two corners so that I could score. It was a good game and we played really well,” Ferreira said.
Coming into the game, both teams were locked on nine points in pool B after three games. But St Dom’s was on top on superior goal difference, having scored 28 goals to Steyn City’s 20.
Crediting hard work, patience and persistent attacking, the Boksburg school was forced to pull off a mammoth effort in the second girls’ game of the day to fight back from a one goal deficit early in the match.
Saints had chances early; including two short corners and a shot at goal, but it was City who would get on top after Raffael Abrahams’ brilliant solo effort in the ninth minute.
After successfully defending a Saints attack, Abrahams advanced from their own half, dribbled past several players before easing past the last defender to hand her team the lead.
Undeterred, St Dom’s kept poking and their hard work paid off right at the buzzer when Ferreira scored from a well-worked shortie as the teams went into the break tied one-all.
Both sides upped the ante in the second half in their search for a second goal. Saints had the upper hand, though, as Ferreira and star player, Katarina Jardim dictated things with nice interchanges throughout the half.
Their persistence was rewarded late in the game when Ferreira converted another penalty corner two minutes from time, handing her team a crucial victory.
Giving her autopsy of the game, Jardim explained this was a game that gave them sleepless nights and they were elated to have come on top.
“This was our hardest game. Kudos to Steyn City. They are a good side. These are games we look forward to in tournaments. They really push and test us as a team. It was good coming out victorious. The team played well. We kept pushing. We deserved the win,” said Jardim.
The 17-year old credited belief and determination for their comeback, especially after conceding, adding that their coach’s half-time pep talk did the trick.
“We needed to step up our game as we approached half-time. I think our legs were failing us a bit. Once we had our team talk, we were motivated. We always say our prayers and know God’s on our side.”
Jardim stated that after getting over this hurdle, she’s confident they have one hand on the title.
“If we play like we did this morning when we play against St Peter’s, a team we respect because they are a good side, we’ll definitely win it,” she said.
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