Makati FC girls have fun after the trophy ceremony together with the club’s officials.—CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
It wasn’t just the very fact the Makati Football Club’s managed to repeat as champions within the Gothia Cup in Sweden.
It was how the Girls 13 age group squad did it.
Forty-three goals scored. Only two conceded.
In what’s dubbed as football’s “Youth World Cup,” the Makati FC teenagers didn’t just defend their title. They owned the tournament.
“Since we won last yr, all of the teams this yr were watching us and searching out on us,” said midfielder Ariana Gementiza, the team skipper, after the club’s 6-0 victory over San Francisco Seals of america at SKF Arena capped an undefeated run to the crown.
“So all of the pressure was on us—but that pressure made us more puffed up and gave us more motivation and a reason why we’d like to win the championship,” added Gementiza.
That motivation was on full display in the ultimate. From kickoff, Makati FC asserted control with confident passing and relentless pressing. They carved out early probabilities and built a 3–0 lead by halftime, keeping the American squad pinned in their very own side of the turf.
Match MVP Nafeeza Ayasha Nori delivered the knockout blows within the second half.
“I feel we won because we worked as a team. We played very well,” said Nori. “I hope I get to play next yr as well—and perform even higher.”
Makati FC, which opened the tournament with a 6–1 win over FCNE (US), shut out six of their next seven opponents, including a 9–0 rout of Iceland’s Fram.
Late drama saw the Makati goalkeeper sent off after a last-minute foul within the box, but the ultimate whistle followed moments later—confirming a dominant title defense.
Alongside Nori’s tournament-leading 11 goals, Gementiza scored 9 and Ajirapha Kaeobanchong added 7—making them the highest three scorers within the competition.
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The Gothia Cup drew teams from over 80 countries, with Makati FC dominating an age group that drew 61 squads from 11 countries.—INQUIRER SPORTS STAFF