El Do ends Saints Cinderella run 2-1.
By: Nigel Simon (Guardian).[/size]
The prolific Jamal Gay pounced on two defensive lapses and scored to lead El Dorado Senior Comprehensive to a 2-1 victory over St Mary’s College in extra-time in their Secondary Schools Football League national RBTT Inter-Col semi-final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday. Regulation time ended 1-1.
With the win, the “Blue Thunder” of El Dorado moved into Tuesday’s final against the winner of today’s other semi-final between East Zone Inter-Col winner, St Augustine Senior Comprehensive and South Zone champions, Naparima College which takes place at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella from 4pm.
Against the run of play, Gay handed “El Do” the lead in the 34th minute when he capitalised on some poor defending by David Maloney.
He eluded Nicholas Walker, before firing the ball past an advancing Matthew Jardim, who was injured during the play.
Despite enjoying a lot of the ball, the “Saints” were still finding it difficult to break down the stubborn “El Do” defense but on the stroke of half-time, Walker thought he had redeemed himself when he headed past Hakeem Blake from a well flighted free-kick from national Under-17 midfielder Sean De Silva.
However, Saints joy was cut-short by an off-side flag and “El Do” took a 1-0 half-time lead into their dressing room.
On the resumption, the “Saints” picked up where they left off with De Silva, Leston Paul and captain Veer Lakhan controlling the midfield.
And their dominance was soon rewarded in the 53rd minute when Paul skilfully turned on his marker inside the area before firing past Blake on his near post with his less fancied left foot to draw his team level (1-1).
Ten minutes later, more sloppy work by St Mary’s defender Walker allowed Gay a golden opportunity which he wasted.
St Mary’s then had chances to take the lead in the 71st minute, through Paul and then striker Hakeem King.
However, after Blake stifled Paul’s attempt, King muffed his attempt from less than four yards out.
With less than six minutes left in the match, “Saints” again came close to going ahead in the match, with a header from Maloney off another De Silva corner, but this time, the cross-bar came to “El Do” rescue as the time expired with the scores even.
Eight minutes into the first period of extra-time Gay got what turned out to be the eventual winner when he ran onto a ball over defender Maloney, before pushing the ball wide of Walker and then lifting it over the advancing Jardim to silence the large blue and white section of the covered stands and lifting the voices of the less than 100 “El Do” supporters who were being entertained by tassa drums.
The second-half of extra-time period was much of the same as the “Saints” squandered a number chances, with Paul, King and Garcia all coming close, but the equaliser never came bringing an end to the “Saints” run, which began with being crowned champions of North Zone Senior Division league. For “El Do,” the win signalled one win away from its first national title in 21 years.
El Do end Saints' fairy tale.
By: Kern De Freitas (Express).The fairy tale is finally over and for St Mary's College it doesn't have a happy ending, as they exited the National RBTT InterCol after a 2-1 loss to El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive yesterday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
"Blue Thunder" striker Jamal Gay struck like lightning on the counterattack late in the first half and again in extra time to put El Dorado within a win of only their second national Secondary Schools Football League title.
But El Dorado had to fight for every inch they got from the St Mary's defence and, if chances were anything to go by, the East Zone runners-up would have been looking at a drubbing.
St Mary's, however, went unrewarded for their bravery and "El Do" live to fight another day, for the most precious piece of silverware in schools football.
The North Zone winners should have taken the lead in the 21st, but national Under-17 midfielder Sean De Silva shot wide of the near post and T&T youth teammate Leston Paul dragged wide of the other upright four minutes later.
Most of the pressure was on El Dorado goalie Hakeem Blake, but he rose to the challenge to keep out threatening shots from Saints attackers.
Against the run of play, Gay, who was kept quiet by the St Mary's defence for most of the opening period, broke the deadlock, running onto a long clearance, outpacing his marker, and beating Saints 'keeper Matthew Jardim.
Defender Nicholas Walker then headed into the El Do net in first half stoppage time, but he was ruled offside.
The pressure, though, was building on the El Dorado defence and it eventually told in the 54th, Paul eluding three defenders in a beautiful solo run, then blasting beyond Blake.
The celebrations were defeaning from the St Mary's supporters and rhythm section, as they urged their team on.
The players responded, Paul and striker Hakeem King forcing the El Dorado defence to scramble away the ball on several occasions, but they were unable to find the winner.
Paul forced saves from Blake twice from close range and David Maloney's header came off El Do's near post.
The last chance for a late winner fell to El Dorado's Nuru Muhammad, but he failed to beat Jardim in a one-on-one.
Extra time, though, was the deciding period. Paul had two drives saved from close up, but that was as near as St Mary's would come to beating Blake again.
Gay was the main threat to the Saints' defence and they had trouble controlling him. In the 99th minute, he, made sure El Dorado will face the winners of today's semi-final between Naparima College and St Augustine Secondary Comprehensive.
In similar fashion to his opening goal, he raced onto a long ball, held off his marker's challenge and planted beyond Jardim as the goalie came rushing out.
This time, the Saints could find no answer to prolong their dream run. But, while it lasted, St Mary's contribution to the InterCol competition was exciting. El Dorado, meanwhile, will have the chance to claim their second national InterCol title and their first since their maiden 1986 triumph.
IT'S A BATTLE: St Mary's College midfielder Renaldo Garcia battles for the ball with an El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive opponent during yesterday's National RBTT InterCol semi-final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. The "Blue Thunder" won 2-1 to book their place in next week's final. ...Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
