'Pres' shock defending champs 'Naps' 2-1.
...Pres take RBTT South Zone Intercol Title.
By: Justin Henry (Schoolsoccernet).[/size]
Presentation College defeated their famous rivals Naparima College in the RBTT South Zone Intercol Final by 2-1 at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium on Monday in what was arguably the most entertaining final of the Intercol Competition thus far. The newly promoted Presentation College’s dream season continues after finishing runners up to Naparima in the League, and it’s possible that not even the most passionate ‘Pres’ fan would have predicted their team lifting the RBTT Intercol South Zone Trophy. Presentation will now face Carapichaima Senior Comprehensive in the quarter finals of the National Intercol Competition, while Naparima College will square off against Carapichaima.
Naparima headed into the game as clear favorites and clearly dominated the first half. Presentation were on the back foot for long periods as Naparima continued to cause nightmares for the ‘Pres’ defense, creating opportunity after opportunity. Naparima had at least four or five excellent scoring chances in the first half but just simply could not apply that finishing touch. The fact that the boys in yellow were still in the game was largely due to the Presentation goalkeeper Akile Adams, who had an incredible night in goal denying League Champions, Naparima, time and time again. At halftime the score was still 0-0 and Naparima and their fans would have felt that the score-line did not do their team justice.
Both teams began the second half eagerly with Naparima still having the better of the exchange between the two teams but still unable to convert their efforts into goals and finish off the opposition. As long as things continued this way, Presentation was always in with a chance to snatch victory and that is exactly what happened. In the 66th minute Stephon Campbell was played into the ‘Naps’ goal area and hit a low and powerful shot that Curtis Julien got his hand to, but was unable to keep out, giving the underdogs the surprise lead against the run of play. Going a goal up clearly relaxed the Presentation players and they were able to begin playing a much better game, despite the unrelenting pressure from the Naparima players desperately in search of an equalizer.
Just minutes after the goal, Derwyn Lee was gifted with an opportunity to double his team’s advantage and potentially seal the title but the substitute misfired leaving his team to protect their slim advantage. ‘Naps’ continued to press forward and again Adams was called into action, but he looked unbeatable between the Presentation sticks as he denied each opportunity the Naparima team created. In the 85th minute, the ever dangerous Derwyn Lee won Presentation a free kick in a dangerous area which Campbell stepped up to take. He unleashed a rocket that flew straight into the top left corner of the goal, this time leaving Julien rooted to the floor unable move and giving ‘Pres’ that precious second goal and the necessary safety cushion to ride out the end of the game.
Credit must be given to the Naparima team who never gave up and continued to make life difficult for their opponents. Some good pressure finally yielded a goal in the 88th minute when Nigel Wright, feigned a shot that caught the Presentation defense, and slid a beautiful pass to Jayson Joseph who made no mistake as he put the ball into the back of the net. Substitute, Shannon Winchester, proved quite a handful for the Presentation defense and had a controversial penalty decision not go his way, when he was brought down in the penalty box after a dangerous looking attack in the 90th minute. Deep in stoppage time, Naparima again came close when Sherrick Hilaire whipped in a free kick that found an open Keston Smith who had the simplest of jobs to just head the ball into the net, but somehow managed to direct his header off target, which just about summed up the Naparima night.
At the blast of the final whistle, the Presentation team and supporters ran towards the top of the uncovered stands where they celebrated and said a moment of pray in thanksgiving.
‘Pres’ Head Coach Brian John sang praises for his goalkeeper whom he though kept his team in the game in the first half.
“We made some tactical adjustments in the second half which allowed Stephon Campbell to be able to push forward some more…and we all saw the end result.”
When asked to comment on the game winning freekick, Coach John simply stated, “Stephon is our deadball specialist, and you can see why.”
Coach John seems vindicated in his team selection which had caused quite a stir in the Presentation fraternity. “I just told the guys to keep your eye on the ball, focus and forget everything negative around you. Simply begin to believe that you can do it and you will!”
John did have some parting words for all his detractors, “In my first stint as Coach for QRC years ago, we won the North Zone Intercol Title. This is my first stint as Presentation Coach and we have won the South Zone Intercol Title. For those concerned, I will let my record speak for itself.”
And so the Presentation dream continues….
Click on this link to see pictures of this dramatic final.Source Courtesy: Schoolsoccernet.Com
