⚽️ UAE Women’s Cup
📅 Sunday 24th May
📍 United Club, Dubai Sports City
The inaugural UAE Women’s Cup reached its culmination on Sunday 24th May, when Precision FC and Banaat FC took to the field for a final deciding battle. However, the cup wasn't the only thing at stake, as the winner would also determine the matchup for the season's upcoming showpiece event, the Super Cup. The Super Cup being a fixture against the cup winner and the league winner.
The atmosphere reflected the occasion. A packed grandstand created a lively backdrop, with over 100 supporters coming to witness the spectacle. Precision FC supporters also brought a drum that echoed around the ground throughout the evening, driving chants and adding to the sense of occasion.
Sunny – Side Pitch
The game kicked off unusually early at 6:00pm. Being so late in the season, it meant that players had to contend with sweltering temperatures. The lingering sun had the added disadvantage of flooding only one half of the pitch with light, whilst neighboring buildings shadowed the other side, making it quite difficult to see the action for both spectators and players.
Nevertheless, both sides were determined to take the Cup for themselves. From the outset, both sides approached the game with intensity. However, Banaat FC had the initial handicap of playing on the sunny side of the pitch. Whilst it sounds pleasant, the angle of the setting sun meant that Banaat FC’s players were fighting to be able to see the ball, let alone the goal.
Precision FC quickly gained the upper hand when Eve Barnes (10) opened the scoring in the 6th minute, giving her side an early advantage.
Banaat FC responded, but were pushed back by Precision FC’s aggressive playstyle. In the 12th minute, Banaat FC’s Ghanima Rashid (16) was shown a yellow card after she rebuffed advances from an opposing player. Five minutes later, Precision doubled their lead through Cadhla Gillen (7), putting Banaat FC on the back foot.
The pressure continued to mount and, in the 27th minute, Georgina Presswell (14) added a third goal for Precision FC. Despite Banaat FC's efforts, they went into the break trailing 3-0.
Final Push
Determined to take back some lost ground, Banaat FC made a tactical change shortly after the restart, with Hannah Morris (8) replacing Ghanima Rashid (16) in the 46th minute. Precision FC received their first caution of the evening when Richelle Placencia (3) was yellow-carded in the 49th minute.
Banaat FC found a route back into the contest in the 54th minute when Lizz Forshaw (4) scored, sparking hopes of an unlikely comeback. The goal injected fresh energy into the side and briefly shifted momentum.
However, Precision FC delivered the decisive blow in the 65th minute through Fania Donyoh (9), restoring their three-goal cushion. A series of substitutions followed as both teams managed tired legs in the difficult conditions. Precision FC introduced Safiya Ahmed (19) for Hannah Churchill (8), while Banaat FC brought on Leen Al Haj (23) for Caye Apostol Yocor (7) and Maymi Asgari (12) for Wuyah Sao (11) in the 66th minute.
The fierce nature of the game never disappeared, and another Precision FC booking arrived in the 73rd minute when Hannah Churchill (8) entered the referee's notebook on a yellow card. Further late substitutions saw Ikram Tria (27) replace Farah Alzaben (2), and Celine Zeidan (15) come on for Safa Shafi (8) in the 86th minute.
Despite Banaat's determination, the final whistle confirmed a 4-1 defeat.
Full-Time: Precision 4-1 Banaat FC
Though the result wasn’t what Banaat FC had hoped for, they humbly received their silver medals from the President of the Women’s Football Committee, Amal Hasan Bushallakh as supporters cheered from the sidelines.
But fans won’t have to wait much longer for another chapter. The following week, the two teams will face each other once more. As winners of the League and Cup respectively, Banaat FC will face Precision FC in a one-off match to determine the winners of the UAE first ever Women’s ‘Super Cup’.
The Cup final may have ended in disappointment, but it also sets the stage for an immediate rematch. With the memories of the defeat still fresh, Banaat FC now have the opportunity to turn frustration into fuel.
