This week witnessed the 3^rd annual Varsity Football match between The British School Al Khubairat (BSAK) and Brighton College Abu Dhabi (BCAD). The much anticipated event between the U19 boys and girls teams took place at the National Stadium, Zayed Sport City, and is seen as the curtain raiser to the football season here in Abu Dhabi. Both teams had met in competitive games in the league and cup, but the prospect of playing in such a venue always proves to bring out the best in players. The format of the event works on an aggregate score from both games.

In the first game of the afternoon the boys took to the field in front of a growing crowd. It didn’t take long for BSAK to take the lead with an early strike from Jake. Despite going a goal down quickly, BCAD did not throw the towel in and just before half time they found the equaliser to make the game 1-1.

BSAK started the second half brightly and created two quick chances which unfortunately they failed to capitalise on. Throughout the remainder of the half BSAK created a number of opportunities to score, but agonisingly just could not find the net. The game finished 1-1 with a share of the spoils for both teams.

Onto the girl’s game, this saw Brighton College initially take the lead with a neatly finished shot across Aisha. The goal gave the opposition confidence and the crowd got behind them, but this only fuelled a hungry BSAK team. The equaliser came from a corner that Nour promptly headed into the net. BSAK continued to press, a beautiful through ball allowed Libbi to stab the ball home to make it 2-1. Caitlin then reacted quickest to a bouncing ball in the box to lash the ball into the net to make it 3-1 before the half time break.   

The second half again saw BSAK come out strong.  Winning the midfield battle allowed BSAK to attack the Brighton defence time after time. After a great run then a perfectly timed one-two, Honey  broke into the box and smashed the ball past the Brighton keeper to make the game 4-1. As the half began to run down BSAK earned a free kick some 30 yards from goal. Honey stepped up to strike the ball with venom into the net making the score 5-1.

The girl’s victory and the boy’s draw meant that BSAK retained the Varsity Trophy with an aggregate score of 6-2. Well done to all that took part.

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