New champions will be crowned in the Atlantic LNG Sponsored National Primary School Football League after Arima Boys RC put out defending national champions Carenage Boys Government yesterday at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
Still, it took kicks from the penalty mark to separate the teams, who were deadlocked at 1-1 after 80 minutes of football-including 20 minutes extra time. Ten penalty kicks later, Arima emerged winners 3-1 in the shootout, having fought back for a 1-1 half-time scoreline. Aston Mollineau, it was, who gave the Easterners the equaliser after Nikeann Aaron had opened the scoring.
Arima will face Santa Flora Government in next Wednesday’s final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Santa Flora coming away from Tobago with a hard-fought 3-2 overtime win against Bon Accord Government at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet.
The Tobago champions went ahead after just seven minutes, Jabari George finding the net, but Judah Garcia put Santa Flora level in the 20th. Five minutes later, George hammered one in, only for Diviyo James to cancel the advantage once more in the 47th. Levi Garcia found the winner in extra time, earning Santa Flora their trip to the final.
The Girls final will feature returning champions Carapichaima Girls RC, and Claxton Bay Government, who won semi-finals yesterday against Montgomery Government at the Bacolet Stadium, and Roxborough Anglican at the Marabella venue respectively.
Carapichaima stopped Montgomery in the 12th minute of extra time via the prolific Zoe Swift, her second goal of the match. The teams were locked at 1-1 when full time ended, Swift opening the scoring in the fifth minute, before Alliya Charles restored the balance for Montgomery on the half-hour.
The Claxton Bay-Roxborough semi was the only match with a regulation time result, Claxton Bay prevailing 2-0 through a brace from Esther Kirk (24th and 27th minutes).
Champ Carenage loses to Arima.
T&T Guardian Reports.
It took 80 minutes and ten penalty kicks to separate Arima Boy’s RC and defending champion Carenage Boys in a semifinal thriller of the Atlantic LNG Sponsored National Primary School Football League yesterday.
The clash between last season’s boys finalists unfolded at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella and in the end it was Arima getting its revenge, 3-1 on penalties.
Carenage which battled tenaciously as it did a year ago in the final, went ahead through Nikeann Aaron but the Arima Giants battled back as Aston Mollineau tied the score before the first half ended.
The extra 20 minutes could not separate the teams and it was penalty kicks which decided the outcome. Arima proved stronger in the kicks and earned a spot in the final. In the second match of the double-header, Claxton Bay Anglican marched into the final when it beat Roxborough Anglican, 2-0 in the semifinals of the girls competition.
In a close contest, Claxton Bay went ahead through Esther Kirk in the 24th minute. However, despite being pressed by Roxborough in the second half Claxton Bay extended its lead when Esther Kirk notched her double in the 27th minute. Claxton Bay will now meet national Girls champion Carapichaima in the final.
Carapichaima was made to fight by Tobago champion Montgomery in the other Girls semifinal at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago. Carapichaima won 2-1. The match was decided by Zoe Swift whose strike in the 12th minute of overtime gave the champion a chance to defend its championship title. Swift put her team ahead in fifth minute before Montgomery striker Alliya Charles put her team level in the 30th minute.
In the second match, Santa Flora edged Bon Accord edged 3-2 in overtime in another closely contested affair. Santa will now meet Arima in the final on Wednesday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain. Following the final in both divisions, the presentation function will be held at 11.45 am.
Yesterdays Results
BOYS FINAL
Arima Boys vs Santa Flora, 10.30 am
GIRLS FINAL:
Claxton Bay vs Carapichaima, 9.30 am
Semifinals
Boys
Bon Accord 2 (Jabari George 8th, 25th) vs Santa Flora 3 (Judah Garcia 20th, Diviyo James 47th, Levy Garcia 69th).
Arima 1 (Aston Mollinea) vs Carenage 1 (Nikeann Aaron). Arima won 3-1 on penalty kicks.
Girls
Claxton Bay 2 (Esther Kirk 24th, 27th) vs Roxborough 0.
Carapichaima 2 (Zoe Swift 5th, 52nd) vs Montgomery 1 (Alliya Charles 30th).