San Juan stop Mucurapo in thriller.
By: Kern De Freitas.
"San Juan,! San Juan! San Juan!"
The chant filled the air at the Hasely Crawford Stadium at the end of the first Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) "Big Five" semi-final and the San Juan Secondary Senior Comprehensive fans had all rights to cheer after their team booked their place in the national league final with a hard-fought 3-1 triumph over North Zone champs Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive.
Spectators had waited more than a half-hour after the scheduled 4.15 p.m. start time for the match to kick off, but the exhibition put on by the two teams in the ensuing 90 minutes was worth it.
Mucurapo attacked from the opening whistle, Keron Cummins having an early chance, but his shot from the edge of the area was saved by San Juan 'keeper Glenroy Samuel.
It was no surprise Mucurapo took the lead in the 29th minute, after some consistent pressure, despite promising counter-attacks from San Juan.
Mucurapo striker Akim Armstrong, after a one-two with Atullah Guerra, stunned Samuel with a blast into the near "vee", for a 1-0 lead at the half.
San Juan may have had a dose of spinach in their dressing room during the interval, as they came out battling for their lives in the second period.
It did not take them long to draw level, either, as their talismanic skipper Elijah Manners slammed the ball into the far right corner of the net after Mucurapo custodian Denzil Carabon blocked Jonathan Romain's initial attempt in the 53rd minute.
Things got worse for Mucurapo, as enraged coach Selris Figaro was sent off by the referee five minutes later.
Rowell Elcock then sparked jubilant celebration in the stands when he put San Juan in the lead, hammering home from 20 metres out in the 70th.
Mucurapo fought furiously for the equaliser and came close on a few occasions, but the game was all but out of their hands when Khaleem Highland earned an early trip to the showers after receiving his second booking in the 78th minute.
Mucurapo's Richard Roy had a volley graze the crossbar in the 80th, then substitute Al Mohammed came close with seven minutes to go, but he missed a chance in front of goal.
San Juan would have the last laugh, as Anthony Guppy booted a pass over Carabon and into the left "vee" to cap off a keen contest, which may have been the best in the SSFL to date this season.
Another red card, this time for Roy in stoppage time, left Mucurapo licking their wounds and San Juan awaiting the winner of today's second semi-final between Signal Hill of the Tobago Zone and South Zone champs Naparima at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
