SALT girls loose in National Final

After the select team of the SALT Battambang girls cruised through the group stages ( 4 wins of 4), the Quarter Final against Siem Reap and the Semi Final against top favorites Kg. Chnang, it looked like a done deal for the girls to take home the trophy at their first appearance at the school finals. 

But the story of the final was a different one. The much younger girls from Battambang (average age 4 years younger) started nervous, and despite the Preah Vehier already having lost in the previous meeting between the 2 teams, they looked like the stronger team for most of the first half. The 1:0 lead was not stolen as the Battambangteam left the defense too often wide open.

The second half was dominated by Battambang, but the girls failed to score and a counter attack saw the Preah Vehier team extend their lead to 0:2. Desperate last attempts all saw the Battambang girls unlucky and the unset of the tournament was perfect, leaving the SALT girls looking for explanations. 

As this was the first participation and all girls can play for many more years, it is to expect that this was not the last final for the SALT girls. 

Captain Nipha receiving the silver medal.