St Augustine Secondary are just one title away from completing the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) sweep, after disposing of El Dorado East Secondary 1-0 in yesterday’s Coca Cola InterCol East Zone final at Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
The ’Green Machine’ had their lone item from the boot of Stefon Pierre in a match where they were forced to work for the goal that sealed the win.
St Augustine will now face Central champions Carapichaima East Secondary in next week’s National InterCol semi-final, while El Dorado’s consolation is a meeting with South winners Presentation College San Fernando in another do-or-die last-eight fixture.
In the first half, St Augustine always looked more likely to score,n although ’El Do’ did have some good chances themselves. But the ’Blue Thunder’s’ reluctance to throw numbers forward in attack made them less potent.
After some initial midfield tussles, St Augustine made the first real attempts to get on the scoresheet, with winger Theon James forcing a save in the tenth minute and then again two minutes later, but goalkeeper Edwards scrambled both chances away to safety.
El Dorado’s supporters and their rhythm section thundered throughout the first half, hoping for the breakthrough that would not come in the first 45 minutes. They only let up for a brief minute on the arrival of ’Ziggy’, St Augustine’s best-known cheerleader and supporter who strolled into the stands to the tune of the Mighty Shadow’s ’Feeling the Feeling’.
His own rendition went: ’Are you feeling the feeling, El Do?’
Green Machine defender Dinelle Lopez tried his luck with a header that Edwards held, while at the other end, Cyrus missed a pair of close free kicks, one of which forced a full stretch save from St Augustine ’keeper Kerron Jones.
Jevaughn Vance, St Augustine’s skipper, had the perfect opportunity for the go-ahead goal, but mis-hit a volley in the 18-metre box that Edwards easily collected. El Do were spared any further jitters after a few nervy defensive moments when the half-time whistle sounded.
In the second period, both teams struggled to break down the opposing defence, although James did force El Dorado captain Khavoir Graham to clear an ominous cross into the area.
Vance had a firm left-footed drive well saved by Edwards in the 69th, but the keeper could do nothing about Pierre’s effort eight minutes later.
He took one touch on a pass and slotted the ball just under the reach of Edwards and St Augustine began their celebrations.
’Doh back back! Doh back back!’ they roared. To add insult to injury, Kylon Gay got sent off immediately after, possibly for dissent, and El Dorado played the final 13 minutes a man short.
Forced to abandon their defensive approach, El Dorado pushed players forward in search of the equaliser. It never came and the Green Machine celebrated into the Malabar night, their third such occasion for the season.
Green Machine retains East title.
T&T Guardian Reports.
A second-half goal from Stefon Pierre proved sufficient for the “Green Machine” of St Augustine Secondary to eke out a 1-0 win over El Dorado East Secondary in a dull East Zone Secondary Schools Football League Coca-Cola Intercol final at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, yesterday.
Pierre’s decider came in the 77th minute when he latched onto a smartly dummied ball by team-mate Vernell Ramirez and hammered a low right footer past “El Do” goalkeeper Christian Edwards.
Overall the match failed to live up to all the exciting and end to end play that has become the norm with Intercol, as both teams struggled to get their passing game together.
The “Green Machine” has now won three titles so far this season and had the first attempt on goal in the 27th minute through Isaiah Mejias, but his effort was pushed away by Edwards in the “El Do” goal. The first half ended goalless.
On the resumption, El Do looked a team on a mission, stringing together a number of passes and controlling the midfield against an out-of-sorts St Augustine unit, however the “Green Machine” defence marshalled by Jabari Claxton kept them at bay.
Thirteen minutes before full-time Pierre finally got the match winner when he collected and fired low and hard past Jones with his right foot to the delight of his team-mates and the supporters who had gone a bit quiet in the second-half. With the win St Augustine added the East Zone Intercol crown to its zonal and national “Big-Five” league crowns.
The “Green Machine” will now come up against Central Zone champions, Carapichaima in the national quarterfinals next Thursday. Despite the loss, “El Do” still qualified for the national quarterfinals where it will meet South winners, Presentation College next Wednesday.
In the other national quarterfinals, Tobago winners, Mason Hall tackles St Mary’s College, runner-up in the North, while North Zone winner, Queen’s Royal College will face Naparima College, both on Tuesday.
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