Barbican poised to capture Women’s crown
BARBICAN Women’s football team is on the verge of creating history when they take a 2-0 advantage into the second leg of the Sherwin Williams Women’s Football League final against Los Perfectos at Barbican this afternoon, starting at 3:00.
The Charles Edwards-coached Barbican won the double for the past two seasons after beating the said opponents to capture the Knockout crown for the third successive season.
The defending league champions will claim an historic double ‘three-peat’ with victory this afternoon.
“I would prefer if this was a formality, but I put myself in their shoe and I’m pretty sure I would come with a strong fight, so I have to get back to reality and look at them (Los Perfectos) and make sure we’re prepared,” Edwards told Sporting World yesterday.
He said being two goals down, his opponents will be forced to change their usual game plan.
“I expect them to open up more at the back, because they’ve been putting a lot of players behind the ball when we play. A 2-0 advantage will force them to change their plan and come at us, which would give us more corridors to go through to attack,” he explained.
He added that Los Perfectos are best when playing at home, so playing away will give them some discomfort.
“They don’t play away too well and we’ll be at home where we’re pretty formidable… this will be very difficult for them and we intend to make it as difficult as possible…,” he added.
Meanwhile, Los Perfectos’ assistant coach Kurt Brooks said his team had a good match against the champions in the first leg, but gave up two ‘soft’ goals that cost them.
However, he acknowledged it will be an uphill task in trying to overturn the deficit but says his team is up for the challenge.
“This is definitely going to pose a challenge; we’re up against the defending champions playing away, but we’re up for it and we’re raring to go,” he said.
Brooks says his team has the talent to do the job and though they are short on experience, he believes once they improve their concentration they can turn the tables.
“The first time they beat us 1-0, they scored in the last five minutes, then they gave us 2-0 and they scored in the last five minutes,” he pointed out.
Brooks said despite being two goals down and losing two finals already this season, he only asks his girls to give of their best.
— Livingston Scott