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ACE goalkeeper Dana Noor showed her strikers how to finish the job by stepping up to slot home from the spot before making a crucial save in a sudden death cup final penalty shoot-out.
The Venus Number One’s quick hands and cool demeanour secured her team glory, securing the club’s first silverware since joining the GulfWeekly-sponsored Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain Ladies League three seasons ago.
The 22-year-old Ministry of Culture employee, who lives in Isa Town, made her match-winning contributions against Joga TFA in the league’s spin-off League Cup competition.
Noor said: “I was really nervous and the pressure was on. We only had three kicks each for the sudden death penalty decider and I was taking the last one for my side.
“The team trusted me to deliver and that’s what I was determined to do. Although it was a great feeling to score with my penalty, I knew I still had to block the opposing team’s efforts.
“I tried blocking the first two shots but they grazed my fingers. The pressure was back on but I just focused on the challenge ahead of me.
“When I blocked Joga’s third penalty it was amazing. I looked up and all the girls were running to me screaming and cheering. Joga are a tough team so this is a big deal for us.
“The Venus girls played well together and really wanted to win it. We have improved immensely and now that we are in our third season we have been training under the Arsenal coaches. I am so proud of how far we have come.”
Venus secured a spot in the final after defeating Arsenal Reds with a convincing 5-0 victory with two goals from Fatema Mahmood, two from Huda Bushehri and an own goal. Meanwhile, the tough and soccer-mad Joga TFA girls beat Arsenal Yellows 2-0 with goals from Hanan Al Ghazara and Sara Jalal to make it to the cup final showdown with Venus.
During the final, Joga looked like they would be taking home the silverware after notching two goals in the tense 30-minute match. Joga’s Jalal scored after Venus had put one in their own net after a disastrous defensive mix-up.
Venus got back into the game with two superbly taken goals courtesy of Anastazia Salinas which sent the game to sudden death penalties.
In the nail-biting finale, Venus celebrated after winning 3-2 with successful penalties from Salinas, Tala Bashmi and Noor who scored the third penalty and made the crucial save.
Jalal and Kholood Al Ghazara had scored from the spot for Joga. The third penalty taken by Eman Ebrahim was superbly saved by Noor.
Deena Rahman, Arsenal’s senior coach, said: “This is the first trophy picked up by Venus during their time in the ladies league. It was a thrilling and even final. We really thought at one stage that Joga had it in the bag but Venus made a great comeback. We are proud of both sides but the hero of the night was Noor for her outstanding performance.”
Noor has been playing football since she was a child, kicking the ball around with her cousins and friends. She even took on different positions during her time at Ibn Khuldoon School playing in a private school league and it wasn’t until she took part in a charity competition that she tried her hand between the posts. When Venus was searching for a full-time goalkeeper she stepped up to the challenge and gelled well with the rest of the squad.
Noor added: “Although I have played in midfield, as a defender and as striker, I really enjoy being a goalie. We are currently undefeated in the league and are gunning for first place. We are playing better together this season than we have in the past because we are more focused and determined. Also, we trust each other on-and-off the pitch.”
League action continued on Monday evening with Arsenal Reds playing Desert Divas, Arsenal Yellow challenged Joga TFA and Venus went up against Junior Gunners.
The silverware for the league and cup competitions will be handed over at a prize-giving ceremony later this month.
