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Ostland wins Women's Brigidnan Cup for second time
By Milena Baumgarten
Published: Ochtyr, 1595


For first time, the Brigidnan Cup was decided in the penalty knockout.


Lauren, Valland - Ostland women's national team showed that what happened four years ago was not pure luck, winning their second Brigidnan Cup against the Oslanburgan team. Ostland, which surprised everyone winning the 1591 Brigidnan Cup in Harmajaa, becomes, along Aurentine, the only team to have won the Brigidnan Cup twice.

However, it was not an easy way for the final. With a much harder group than in 1591, after a 0-0 draw with Saratov, and a 1-2 loss against Videjszeme in the first two matches, the Ostland team faced Florinthus in the third match of the group stage. Only a win would have qualified them, but they were able to surprise the Florinthian team -which was considered one of the favourites to win the title-, defeating them 1-3.

In the quarterfinals they faced another West Brigidnan team, Galeae, which they were also able to defeated in a balanced -but more exciting than entertaining- winning 2-1. Then, Ostland team faced Carpathia and Moldova, which they defeated to reach their second Brigidnan Cup final, in a 2-0 win, probably their best football match in the tournament, as the Ostland showed way superior to their Southern Brigidinan rivals.

Oslanburg was waiting in the final, after qualifying to the quarterfinal defeating 6-1 to Vienland (the largest win in the history of the Brigidnan Cup), and defeating both Saratov and Nerysia in the extra time. Despite facing the incumbent champions, many considered Oslanburg to be the favourites to win the title, in their best Brigidnan Cup (it was the second final for Oslanburg, after losing the title at home against Valland in 1567).

Oslanburg started controlling the match, and soon theirs were the clearest and main chances. Ostland suffered to defend their goal, only being able to threaten the Oslanburgan team with a few counter-attacks which, in most cases, were easily stopped by the Oslanburgan defense.

The second half started with a similar script, only the match turning more chaotic as minutes advanced. Ostland had their chance on the minute 71, in which Martina Heiz faced the Oslanburgan goalkeeper without opposition, but she failed to find the goal. Still, the Oslanburgan had several good chances the score, but the Ostlander goalkeeper, Louise de Handt, avoided the Oslanburgan to score the predictably decisive goal, ending the first ninety minutes in a 0-0 for first time in the history of the Brigidnan Cup.

In the extra time, Ostland had more chances to score a goal, as Oslanburgan players were probably facing the fatigue after their third extra time in a week. Oslanburgan striker Margarete Rasmussen -who was the top scored of the cup with 5 goals- had the main and last chance, but the Ostland goalkeeper first and the crossbar avoided the goal.

For first time, the Brigidnan Cup title was to be decided in the penalty knockout, and it needed 10 penalty kicks (the 5 ordinary ones, and 5 extra ones) for every team to have a winner. Then, Oslanburgan defender Annette Jensen kicked the ball directly to the grandstand of the stadium. Ostlander midfielder Ernestine Boye didn't miss to give Ostland their second Brigidnan Cup.