Gustine humbles Naps to reach final

The two teams which met in last year’s Intercol semifinal, went goalless over the half hour mark, however, Kevin Seaburn broke the deadlock in the 34th minute to give his team a 1-0 lead.

Naps, which retained the South zone title, was able to prevent the title holders from increasing the advantage until Jamal Creighton double the lead in the 75th minute.

The issue was then sealed eight minutes later when Kyle Bartholomew found the net to make it 3-0. The three-time champions got a consolation goal a minute from time compliments of a Neil Benjamin strike.

The “Green Machine” who are eying national title number six, will take on the winner of the other semifinal between North Zone champions St Anthony and Tobago winners Signal Hill at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, from 4 pm today.

St Anthony’s College dubbed the “Westmoring Tigers”, who have played unbeaten this season, have won the national title twice—in 2002 and 2003—and are confident of at least reaching a third national final.

The Tigers have history on their side having defeated Signal Hill in the 2003 semifinal at the same venue in their only previous meeting.

Coach Nigel Grosvenor despite being confident, lamented on the absence of his two key players, captain Dwight Cebello and vice-captain, goalkeeper Jamal Francois, both with the national Under-20 team on tour in Venezuela.

“Two of our main players will be missing the match, but the rest of the guys have said they are up for the challenge and ready to show they could cope.”

On the otherhand, Signal Hill buoyed by its 3-1 whipping of Central Zone winners, Carapichaima East Secondary, in Friday’s lone quarterfinal will also be brimming with confidence.

The Tobago Zone winners have won the national title on four previous occasions (1984, 1987, 1988 & 1998) and with Dareem Moore, Nariel Wilson and Shaquille Gill firing on all cylinders, they will be seeking their fifth after a 12 year drought.

Yesterday’s Big Five semifinal:

Result

St Augustine ( Kevin Seabrun 34th, Jamal Creighton 75th, Kyle Bartholomew 83rd) vs Naparima 1(Neil Benjamin 89th).