CHAMPIONS: Griffith City Football Club womens squad were thrilled to take home the silverware after winning their grand final game against Yoogali Soccer Club in the penalty shoot-out.
GRIFFITH City Football Club has been crowned the all-age womens premiers after defeating Yoogali Soccer Club in a thrilling grand final penalty shoot-out.
The GCFC girls won the title after Andrea Martinello scored one minute before the full-time whistle to send the game into overtime and then the shoot-out.
GCFC's Steve Foschi said it was a thrilling end to the girls' season and to their time as a team.
"We're absolutely thrilled," he said. "To take on the defending premiers and minor premiers and to come away with it is great.
"It was great to finish on such a good note as this is their last year together it was a well deserved win."
From the first whistle the minor premiers proved they were worthy of the title, grabbing possession and attacking GCFC's goal early.
While City's defenders showed they weren't going to be easy to break, the quick legs of Isabella Barbaro opened up the perfect opportunity and YSC took the lead 15 minutes into the game.
Griffith City's attacking end picked up the pace soon after and possession evened out but the girls in red, white and green couldn't create chances in front of YSC's goal and they trailed 1-0 at half-time.
At the second half bell YSC was back in front of GCFC's goal and had plenty of opportunity to extend their lead but couldn't convert.
With few chances to grab the equaliser, it looked like YSC would take home the silverware.
But with one minute to go, Martinello found herself in prime position and a fumbled save by YSC's keeper opened the goal up for City to score and force the game into overtime.
In golden goal, Yoogali once again paid the price for not being able to convert their chances, while Griffith City found few opportunities to snatch the win.
The clock ran out with neither team able to grab the winning goal and the match went to a penalty shoot-out where the safe hands of GCFC keeper Rachael Reitano propelled her squad to the winner's podium.
Foschi praised the ability of player of the match Reitano, saying she kept the squad in the game.
YSC coach Anthony Martinello was devastated by the loss but said his squad showed character to come back after losing in the semi-finals.
"I'm proud of them," he said. "It was just one of those days there was nothing between the sides all year and for it to go to a shoot-out shows that."
