PHC Zebras 1 Dandy Town Hornets 3
Dandy Town Hornets have ended their Friendship Trophy final drought in dramatic fashion, defeating PHC Zebras 3-1 at the Somerset Cricket Club. The Hornets, who last lifted the trophy in 2002-03 season, produced a resilient performance to overcome the two-time defending champions and deny them another historic three-peat.
PHC Zebras Starting Line-up: - Quinaceo Hunt, Kadeem Abraham (Harlem Bean-Fox 59th), Deandre Smith-Lightbourne, De-Aun Lodge, Dakari Smith-Davis, Caleb McDowall (Jayden Ebbin 85th), Enrique Russell (D’Andre Wainwright 85th), Eusebio King-Mills, Enoch Joseph, Joshua Joseph, Haile Eve (Arnezha Astwood 50th) - Substitutes - Antonio Wade, T’ysi Showers, Shavon Nisbett, Yehai Burgess - Dandy Town Hornets Starting Line-up: - Jaiden Manders, Tomiko Goater, Dante Leverock, Terrance Webb Jr., Eusebio Blankendal, Jahzardae Samuels (Edry Moore 82nd), Amar Lewis (Adrian Trott, 82nd), Erico Outerbridge (Lazai Outerbridge, 69th), Jahkari Furbert, David jones Jr., Nathan Ntalu (Angelo Simmons 69th) - Substitutes - Mateo Issac, Ajai Daniels, Tavez Smith, Omar Wilson, Toran Place
As predicted, the match was a tense affair, with both teams boasting strong squads bolstered by the return of overseas players. Dandy Town, the in-form team heading into the final, took the lead in the 30th minute through David Jones Jr., and they maintained their advantage going into the break.
The second half saw PHC Zebras push for an equaliser, but the Hornets defence held firm. In the 79th minute, Dandy Town doubled their lead through Lazai Outerbridge, seemingly putting the game beyond reach.
However, the drama was far from over. In the first minute of stoppage time, PHC Zebras were awarded a penalty after substitute Harlem Bean-Fox was fouled in the box. Joshua Joseph converted the spot-kick to reduce the deficit and give the Zebras a glimmer of hope.
But Dandy Town responded decisively. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, substitute Jahkhari Furbert sealed the victory with a third goal, sparking wild celebrations among the Hornets players and fans.
This victory marks a significant moment for Dandy Town Hornets, ending a long wait for Friendship Trophy glory. Their performance was a testament to their resilience, determination, and ability to perform under pressure.
For PHC Zebras, this defeat will be a disappointment, particularly after their recent dominance in the competition. However, they can take pride in their efforts and will undoubtedly be back to challenge for the trophy next year.
This New Year's Day final provided a fitting climax to the Friendship Trophy competition, showcasing the passion and excitement that Bermudian football has to offer. The Dandy Town Hornets' victory will be etched in the club's history, and they will now look to build on this success in the remainder of the season.
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