Football: Women’s Airtel Cup-Olympia Coast and Dolphins in repeat final |31 May 2005

With their top players Diane Lablache and Natacha Bibi, both former players of the year, netting hat-tricks, both Dolphins and Olympia Coast kept their opponents at bay and at the same time worked on getting the ball into the net with big wins in the semifinals last Saturday at Stad Linite.

Olympia Coast whitewashed reigning Land Marine Cup champions Ste Anne United of Praslin 3-0 and Dolphins thumped Revivers 6-0.

Under the guidance of coach Gerard Gamatis, Olympia Coast are ready to take revenge on Dolphins who beat them 3-0 in last year’s final thanks to a brace by Diane Lablache and a third goal by Vesna César.

After a goalless first half, Bibi scored in the 46th, 59th and 70th minutes for Port Glaud-based Olympia Coast to send them into another final.

Diane Lablache opened the scoring for Dolphins in the fourth minute and goals by Florina Alphonse and Maggie Lajoie in the 28th and 29th minutes gave them a 3-0 half-time lead.

After the breather, Lablache scored two more goals in the 51st and 65th minutes to complete her hat-trick.

Pascalina Moustache wrapped up the scoring for Dolphins with a sixth goal on the stroke of full-time to give coach Jason Damoo reasons to believe that his team can retain their title.

It is to note that the six participating teams were divided into two groups of three and they played each other once. The top two in each pool progressed to the semis.
Defending League champions Olympia Coast won their group matches against Anse Aux Pins Blasters and Revivers on 4-0 scores.

Revivers took second place in the group after winning 1-0 against Anse Aux Pins Blasters.
Like Olympia Coast, Dolphins also won their two group matches. They hammered United Sisters 5-0 and edged Ste Anne United 3-2.

Reigning Land Marine Cup champions Ste Anne United then beat United Sisters 1-0 to finish second.

G. G.