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Stephen Ealie scored a spectacular dipping free kick in the 11th minute to put Tunapuna Titans 1-0 up against Cap Off Youths in the Under-13 final of the National Youth League (NYL) on Sunday.

Titans which were unbeaten throughout the season went on to win 2-1 in a tight encounter, played at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.

Top class football was displayed from the youngsters, in which individual runs, build up play and defensive work were showed far beyond their years. After the Titans took the early lead from Ealie’s left foot shot, both teams were on the offensive but either side had difficulty breaking down the other.

Ronaldo Beckles, however, found space in the box from a lobbed cross which resulted from a throw-in and smashed the ball home putting his side up 2-0. in the 28th minute. Tunapuna held the two goal lead to the break.

Cap Off Youths head coach Michael Davis offered some lifting words at half-time, which was shown by the pressure that his side applied at the start of the second half. Cap Off then found their much needed goal in the 55th minute from a set piece opportunity.

Aaron Kennedy stepped up to take a deep corner from the left side which was met by a rushing Raheem Collins which he then put away with conviction. The Cap Off support could be heard encouraging the players to fight for the second, equalising goal. Despite the number of opportunities both sides were presented with after, the match remained with the 2-1 score. The final whistle was met with jubilation from the Tunapuna support, club executives and the players alike.

Public Relations Officer of the Tunapuna Titans Football Club and Youth Academy, Calvin Toussaint was elated following the victory. The under-15 and under-17 matches were also played on Sunday. Santa Rosa ultimately won both; first in the under-15 in a lively 3-2 encounter against Moruga and in the under-17 where they stamped their mark with a 4-1 drubbing of Club Sando.

Both matches were also played at the Marvin Lee Stadium. In the under-15 fixture, Moruga drew first blood. Anderson Toussaint scored in the 16th minute to put his side, Moruga 1-0 up, but only temporarily. Trey Hanley replied with two goals back to back in the 27th and 28th.

The relentless Hanley added another in the 38th minute to complete his hat-trick and to put Santa Rosa up 3-1 at the half. Moruga needed to fight back and got another in the 66th minute which Tishawn De Leon found the back of the net to narrow the gap. Moruga then ran out of gas and were unable to find the necessary third goal. Santa Rosa were then lifted with their first of two titles of the day.

Santa Rosa and Club Sando took to the field at 2 pm for the under-17 final. Santa Rosa this time, however, were clinical with David Lezama netting another hat-trick.

Lezama was on target twice within the first 20 minutes. Santa Rosa then held a 2-0 lead at the break. Club Sando attempted a fight back when Tevin Monix scored in the 59th.

Sando’s scoring ended but Santa Rosa didn’t stop.  Lezama scored his third in the 82nd minute and Dyjon Dabreo scored in added time to seal Santa Rosa’s championship status.

FINAL NYL RESULTS

U-13 Final

Tunapuna Titans 2 (Stephan Ealie 11th, Ronaldo Beckles 28th) v Cap Off Youths 1 (Raheem Collins 55th)

U-15 Final

Santa Rosa 3 (Trey Hanley 27th, 28th and 38th) v Moruga Football Club 2 (Anderson Toussaint 16th, Tishawn De Leon 66th)

U-17 Final

Club Sando 1 (Tevin Monix 59th) v Santa Rosa 4 (David Lezama 11th, 19th and 82th, Dyjon Dabreo 90th)

Third Place Playoff

U-13: FC Santa Rosa 4 (John-Paul Rochford 5th, Tyrese Sampson 24th, Isaiah Lee 52th and 57th) v St Clair Coaching School 1 (Akiel Holford 51st)

U-15: Club Sando  0 v Stokely Vale Football Club 3 (Devon Slewrat 29th, 64th and 65th)

U-17: Joe Public v 1976 FC Phoenix (Phoenix won 3-0 by default)