Ladies International Soccer/Football Team

IFC Ladies 1 are the official league winners

After last Saturday's hard-fought draw, IFC had the chance to officially clinch the title away at KSD Marine, a physical side that had climbed the table after putting together an excellent run of results.

IFC travelled with only 11 players. Luckily it was less warm than the previous week and miraculously the rain that was predicted never came! Especially Adwo was happy with the tempurature as she started in central midfield, while Linda moved back into central defense alongside Sofie and Brigid. Daphne and Irene completed the midfield unit. Chiara and Lina were deployed on the wings, with Annemarieke and Saskia leading the line.

Goalkeeper Gilda may not have been entirely delighted with the line-up, knowing she would have plenty to do with Linda playing in front of her and the expected stream of back-passes, high and low that would come with it.

IFC started well and took control early. Adwo opened the scoring from a Daphne corner, and Lina made it 0-2 after finishing Chiara’s cross.

Adwo added a second from another corner, this time delivered by Lina, before Lina made it 0-4 from an Annemarieke assist. Adwo nearly produced the goal of the season with an overhead kick, just as she had against RKAVV earlier in the campaign, but once again the effort flew just over the bar.

At the other end, KSD did manage to enter the box from time to time and earned a few corners, but IFC's midfield worked hard tracking back. Even Chiara contributed defensively and seemed to be everywhere on the pitch. In the end, some of the most dangerous balls Gilda had to deal with came from her own captain.

After the break, IFC continued to play solid football. The midfield was controlled by Irene, Adwo and poor Daphne, who had to cope with a physically strong opponent that never missed a chance to give her a firm push in the back as soon as she tried to control the ball. Fortunately, the referee spotted this several times, and IFC were awarded a number of free kicks.

KSD kept trying to release their quick strikers near Gilda's goal. One low cross from the right looked particularly dangerous, especially as both Gilda and Linda seemed set to attack the ball. Gilda did not call for it, so Linda took matters into her own hands half a meter in front of goal, cut past the onrushing striker, and calmly played out as if she were operating in midfield, leaving Gilda without the ball for a change.

IFC kept scoring after the break. Lina made it 0-5, Daphne added the sixth, the seventh was an own goal neither team wanted to see. The 0-8 came from the league's top scorer Daphne (although we obviously don’t know the goal scorers from other teams, we can’t see anyone else making 38 goals in this league this season). Just like in the home game, Lina was the top goalscorer of the day, making the 0-9.

After the final whistle, a small celebration took place on the pitch as IFC Ladies 1 officially secured the league title. Even Fudge liked his medal! It was a championship fully deserved. This team did it on their own, without support from a higher-level first team and without MO20 or MO17 youth sides to draw from, unlike many other clubs. That makes the achievement all the more impressive.

This was the final match report from your on-field reporter after the past few seasons. All the best to everyone and thank you all for the support!

KSD – IFC
0-1 Adwo (Daphne)
0-2 Lina (Chiara)
0-3 Adwo (Lina)
0-4 Lina (Annemarieke)
0-5 Lina (Daphne)
0-6 Daphne (Annemarieke)
0-7 Own goal
0-8 Daphne (Lina)
0-9 Lina (Annemarieke)

IFC ladies 1 (unofficially) Wins the League After Chaotic Battle against Blauw Zwart

On Saturday, May 9, IFC played its final home match of the season. It was also the last match for Saskia and Gilda, who are both retiring from football, for Linda, who will be leaving the club and for Felicia, who, after her knee injury last season, has been a devoted supporter on match days.

There was even more at stake, as IFC went into the game knowing that a win would secure the league title. A large crowd turned out to support the home side. Even Natalie, who has moved back to the UK, but is still a registered member, returned for the weekend to play this match.

IFC knew it would be a difficult afternoon against a young Blauw Zwart side that had been in excellent form. Their confidence was clear after a stunning 6-2 victory over second-placed Ariston the previous week.

IFC started nervously but with plenty of energy, putting Blauw Zwart under pressure from the opening whistle in search of an early goal. The home side looked threatening but struggled to create clear-cut chances. They won several corners, but headers from Adwo and Linda went just wide, while Daphne’s efforts were denied by the goalkeeper.

Blauw Zwart defended deep and looked to release their quick striker with one long ball after another. That approach paid off in the first half, when the visitors created two major chances and converted one of them.

Trailing at half-time, IFC knew it had to raise the level in the second half. The pattern of the game remained much the same: IFC pushed forward, while Blauw Zwart threatened on the counterattack. IFC was fortunate that Blauw Zwart's striker missed two big opportunities, and at the other end there were several chaotic moments in front of the visitors' goal where they were lucky the ball didn’t end up in their net.

IFC thought it had equalized when Daphne brilliantly finished a run into the top corner. Blauw Zwart claimed the ball had already gone over the sideline, and the referee blew the whistle before the ball ended up in the net. What followed was complete confusion. The away coach took his team off the pitch after reacting furious towards IFC’s 18-year-old sub who was brave enough to take the flag in a championship match. After around ten minutes of discussion Blauw Zwart returned. The goal was disallowed and play resumed.

IFC threw everything forward in search of the point it needed to unofficially secure the league title, while Blauw Zwart defended desperately. In the final minute, Annemarieke converted a penalty after the ball struck the hand of a Blauw Zwart defender during the chaos following yet another corner.

The match ended 1-1, leaving IFC with mixed feelings. In theory, the team still needs one more point against KSD next weekend to be officially crowned champions. In practice, however, the goal difference to second-placed Ariston is 60, so even if IFC were to lose and Ariston were to win its remaining two matches, overturning that gap would be virtually impossible. Official or unofficial champions, IFC chose to celebrate the season, the departing players, and a special afternoon that turned into something of a reunion with former teammates, friends, family, and members of IFC Ladies 2.

Next week, IFC plays its final match of the season against KSD Marine, aiming for a win to underline that they are the deserving champions.

Convincing Win IFC ladies 1 against shorthanded BSC

IFC Ladies 1 delivered a dominant performance against BSC, continuing their momentum from last week's victory. With four crucial matches left in the season, IFC knew they needed to raise their intensity to secure the title. Despite being shorthanded, BSC showed resilience and positivity throughout the game, even as the scoreline became increasingly one-sided.

The match started with IFC scoring after just 24 seconds. Linda sent Daphne into space, who calmly slotted home her first goal of the afternoon. Only two minutes later, Linda and Daphne combined again, with Daphne finishing from the edge of the box with a powerful strike into the top corner.

On the right wing, Chiara had a very good game and finally broke her scoring drought with a composed finish into the far corner after a strong run, making it 3-0 in just 10 minutes. Annemarieke added a fourth in the 17th minute, finishing with a cheeky toe-poke past the keeper.

After building a comfortable lead, IFC's play became a bit sloppy, allowing BSC a few chances to threaten Gilda's goal. Although the visitors never posed a serious threat, IFC needs to make sure to keep their passing game and intensity up in moments like these especially when playing stronger teams in the last 3 matches of the season.

Before half time, Lina made it 5-0 following a smart assist from Irene, and Linda capped off a first half with 4 assists with a goal of her own after a slick one-two with Annemarieke inside the box. The halftime whistle came with IFC firmly in control.

After the break, IFC looked to regain their sharpness, creating several opportunities but often faltering with their final decisions in front of goal. It didn’t help that the game had to be paused so Lina and referee Mark could clean up a considerable amount of dog p**p found on the field. Meanwhile, the both team captains chatted with each other across the pitch, agreeing that cleaning up dog mess certainly wasn't part of their job description.

When the match continued, Daphne struck again after 60 minutes, finishing a well-placed pass from Adwo. Lina extended the lead to 8-0 eight minutes later, assisted by Brigid.

Daphne completed her hat-trick after the BSC goalkeeper spilled a shot from Lina, allowing her to pounce on the rebound. Annemarieke added to the tally with a tidy finish following clever interplay between Brigid and Beth. In the 89th minute, Daphne made it 11, with a shot (or was it God?) from distance.

It was a comfortable afternoon for IFC Ladies 1, who now turn their attention to the midweek fixture against SJZ. With Ariston just two points behind and matches against the league's third, fourth, and fifth-placed teams ahead, IFC's path to the title remains challenging.

1st 1-0 Daphne (Linda)
2nd 2-0 Daphne (Linda)
10th 3-0 Chiara (Linda)
17th 4-0 Annemarieke (Linda)
20th 5-0 Lina (Irene)
24th 6-0 Linda (Annemarieke)
60th 7-0 Daphne (Adwo)
68th 8-0 Lina (Bridget)
75th 9-0 Daphne
80th 10-0 Ann (Beth)
89th 11-0 Daphne

DSO Ends IFC Ladies 1 Winning Streak

IFC Ladies 1 saw their impressive winning streak come to an end yesterday against DSO. With DSO’s ladies 1, MO20 and MO17 not having a game today, IFC knew they would not play DSO ladies 2, but a mix of all teams above.

The match took place at DSO’s expansive facility, but IFC did not have a place to do their warmup. Instead, the team resorted to some running on a narrow strip of grass dotted with molehills and small trees, making ball work nearly impossible.

From the opening whistle, IFC put pressure on DSO and created several opportunities to take the lead, but failed to capitalize. DSO’s first meaningful attack resulted in a goal (with an assist from the nr. 10 in the back to the other nr. 10 up front) and they doubled their advantage soon after with another quick strike.

As the game progressed, physicality increased and IFC was forced to raise their intensity to stay competitive. The match was punctuated by a series of questionable decisions from the referee and lineswoman, at times turning the contest into a farcical affair. Right before halftime, Lina was catapulted by two DSO defenders as she broke through on goal, earning only a free kick just outside the box and a yellow card for one of the numbers 8 on the pitch, who was seemingly content with the color of the card. Thankfully, Annemarieke stepped up and expertly converted the free kick, putting IFC back in contention.

IFC dominated possession for much of the 2nd half, but their decision-making faltered at critical moments: complicated passes, impossible shots from distance, dribbles that should have been a simple 1-2 and taking too much time on the ball. It resulted in constant battles for the ball. With DSO’s physical strength and speed, IFC played right into their hands. IFC fought hard and came close to leveling the score on several occasions, but their finishing touch deserted them. In the closing minutes, DSO scored a third goal to secure a 3-1 victory.

While there is no shame in losing against this mixed DSO team, IFC will need to regroup and refocus for the challenges ahead. The title remains within reach, but the team will need to prepare for future opponents who may also field stronger squads, where goals will be hard-earned.

Looking ahead, IFC faces SJZ Ladies 2 next week—another physical side with fast players that proved difficult in the last away fixture. Securing three points will be crucial for IFC’s title ambitions as the season approaches its climax.

DSO – IFC
3-1
1-0 DSO
2-0 DSO
2-1 Annemarieke
3-1 DSO

Dominant Second Half Seals Resounding Win for IFC

Yesterday evening, IFC Ladies 1 faced off against LSVV in a rescheduled league fixture. This match marked the first meeting between the two teams this season, with LSVV at the bottom of the league and IFC at the top. Despite the scoreline, a different perspective on an offside call, the team kept their chins up and spirits high.

With a physically demanding match last Saturday and some players having completed a half marathon on Sunday, Coach Leo opted for rotation in his lineup. The decision was made to give rest to those nursing minor injuries and the more experienced squad members (the old ones) except for Gilda who obviously never gets any rest. This aimed to keep the team fresh ahead of another tough away match coming Saturday.

IFC started the match both strongly and sloppy at the same time, creating several opportunities in the opening period, without being able to open the score. The breakthrough came just before the half-hour mark, as Lina finished a nice run from Linda to make it 1-0. Seven minutes later, Saskia capitalized on a corner from Lina, tapping in to double IFC’s advantage.

After the break, IFC’s attacking play became relentless. Astrid and Chiara had spent the first half and part of the second running the wings tirelessly, constantly troubling the LSVV defense. In the second half, Jiarah and Lina took over, maintaining the pressure. Saskia, having scored earlier, made way for Annemarieke, who was eager to get on the scoresheet herself. Midfielders Beth, Linda and Irene were replaced by Irene, Adwo and Daphne.

Five minutes after the restart, Daphne headed in a corner delivered perfectly by Adwo, extending the lead to 3-0 and Jiarah scored her first of the match with another assist from Adwo, making it 4-0.

Annemarieke made it 5-0, displaying her trademark alertness by reacting first to a rebound off the post and finishing confidently. Irene then provided a precise pass to Ji, who raced clear to score IFC’s sixth. Annemarieke struck again, converting a cross from Lina to make it 7-0.

Daphne capped off a beautiful attacking move, assisted by Ji, increasing the tally to 8. Ji rounded out the scoring five minutes before the final whistle by completing her hattrick, putting the finishing touch on a dominant performance and setting the final score at 9-0.

With this emphatic victory, IFC Ladies 1 will look to carry their momentum into Saturday’s away match against DSO.

1-0: Lina (Linda)
2-0: Saskia (Lina)
3-0: Daphne (Adwo)
4-0: Jiarah (Adwo)
5-0: Annemarieke
6-0: Ji (Irene)
7-0: Annemarieke (Lina)
8-0: Daphne (Ji)
9-0: Ji (Lina)

IFC Ladies 1 Extend Lead at the Top After Dramatic 4-3 Victory on Ariston 2

In a highly anticipated clash, IFC Ladies 1 emerged victorious with a dramatic 4-3 win over Ariston Ladies 2. This ‘six pointer’ match saw the league’s leaders battle it out for crucial points against the number 2 of the league.

IFC had previously secured an away win against Ariston earlier in the season, but with Ariston unbeaten since that loss—aside from a draw last week—the stakes couldn’t have been higher and Ariston knew only a win would keep the title race in their own hands.

Both sides began nervously, with IFC having the upper hand. Ariston’s goalkeeper was tested from distance on several occasions, but did not bulge. Persistence paid off in the first half when Adwo capitalized on a corner from Daphne, heading home to give IFC the lead.

However, Ariston responded swiftly. Their speedy left winger broke free from the IFC defense, and despite Gilda’s effort, the ball slipped in, to level the score. Yet, just before halftime, Daphne turned provider again. Her corner was met by Adwo, and although the Ariston defense initially repelled the effort, Lina reacted fastest to slot home from close range, restoring IFC’s advantage at 2-1.

IFC started the second half brightly and were rewarded early on. In the 48th minute, Daphne was brought down by the Ariston keeper, earning a deserved penalty. Lina stepped up confidently and converted, notching IFC’s milestone 100th goal of the season.

Refusing to go down without a fight, Ariston made it ‘a long-ball game’, targeting their quick wingers time after time. Their persistence paid off when a defensive lapse allowed them to pull one back, making it 3-2 and putting IFC under pressure. The momentum shifted further when, in the 80th minute, something in between a cross-shot rebounded off Gilda’s hand and the crossbar, landing perfectly for an Ariston attacker to tap in and equalize at 3-3.

The final ten minutes were a fierce contest, with both teams trading corners and chances. Brigid consistently challenged the tall, speedy winger, helping her teammates recover defensively. Sofie made a daring last-minute tackle, managing to tip the ball away from the striker just in time. Linda did something similar, causing both the striker and Sofie to tumble over her. Irene confidently won a crucial shoulder-to-shoulder battle inside the box. Adwo executed an essential block inside the box and Kas secured the header from the resulting corner kick.

Meanwhile, the IFC forwards consistently posed a threat, preventing Ariston from committing entirely to offensive strategies. The goalkeepers on each side pulled off key saves to keep their teams in the hunt.

But deep into stoppage time, in the 93rd minute, IFC seized the decisive moment. A long ball from Kas unsettled the Ariston defense, and Ji—having just been denied in a similar breakaway—showed both speed and composure to finish past the keeper making it 4-3.

With the clock winding down, IFC dug deep, spurred on by raucous support from friends, family, and the ladies of the second team. Their resilience and fighting spirit ensured they held on for a vital win.

This result widens the gap at the top to five points in IFC’s favor, although challenging fixtures still lie ahead. The team’s determination and unity were key to today’s hard-fought victory.

Special thanks go out to all the supporters, especially the friends, family, and second team players whose encouragement made a difference on and off the pitch!

IFC – Ariston
1-0 Adwo (Daphne)
1-1 Ariston
2-1 Lina
3-1 Lina (p)
3-2 Ariston
3-3 Ariston
4-3 Jiarah