⚽️ UAE Womens League, MD 4
📅 Friday, January 30, 2026
📍 Dubai, UAE
In our fourth fixture of the second round, we opened up our home field to our first match up of the season against GoPro Academy. Carrying momentum from our win over Mubadara, the team delivered a strong performance.
The breakthrough came early, as Bogi Tramontini opened the scoring in trademark style. Finding space just outside the box, she struck a clean right-footed shot to put us ahead 1-0.
GoPro responded with an equalizer from a set piece, capitalizing on a rebound to level the score at 1-1. The response from The Lilacs was immediate and composed.
Striker Leen Alhaj restored the lead with an easy tap in, to make it 2-1. Continuing on her momentum, she set up midfielder Mel Hoestra and extended the advantage with a composed finish, sending the team into halftime with a deserved 3-1 lead.
We carried our dominance into the second half, dictating the tempo and continuing to create many high-quality chances, with Melanie Hoekstra completing a second-half hat trick to put the score at a dominant 6-1 win.
Coach Kevin Palma on the win:
“It was a tough opponent, but our clinical finishing proved decisive. The focus was playing forward quickly, winning our 1v1s, and showing bravery in front of goal. Off the ball, the work rate was excellent, with Safa, Mel, and Rayana controlling midfield. Yasmine impressed after a strong week in training, handling their experienced winger well, and Amna’s crucial reaction saves at 1–1 kept us in the game. Overall, a good win. We go again”
With 4 matches played, this pushes Banaat FC to the top of the table with 10 points.
