Joe Public and La Horquetta SA will bring the curtain down on the 2012 Eastern Football Association season when they face off in the President’s Cup final at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, on Sunday.
This after both teams registered hard-fought semifinal wins on Saturday last. At the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, Joe Public got the better of EFA FA Trophy and Premier Division winners Malabar FC 5-4 on penalty-kicks after a 2-2 draw.
Shaudelle Samuel opened the scoring for Malabar in the 25th minute and Nicholas Armstrong doubled the advantage five minutes later as their team looked set to stay in the hunt for a third title this season.
However, Kasseem Karis started Joe Public’s revival in the 35th minute while Nathan Patterson tied up the score in the 54th minute after which both teams failed to break the deadlock, which sent the match into penalty kicks where the host prevailed.
In the other semifinal match, four different players were on target for League Cup winner La Horquetta SA to overcome Pinto United 4-3 despite Brendon Figuera’s hat-trick.
Frederick Commissiong fired La Horquetta ahead in the 16th minute only for Figuera to net his first for Pinto five minutes later, as both teams battled for early control of the encounter which swung back in La Horquetta’s favour via a strike from Omeka Barbour in the 23rd minute while Figuera equalised once more in the 32nd minute.
The goal feast in the first half was not over as Kern Robinson restored La Horquetta’s advantage in the 39th minute but within the blink of an eye Figuera completed his hat-trick for a 3-3 score at the interval.
On the resumption, both teams stepped up their defense with only Cederic Commissiong being able to find the target in the 68th minute to secure La Horquetta a 4-3 triumph and a chance at a second title for the season on Sunday.
The winner of the final will receive the President’s Cup Challenge trophy, 23 gold medals and $4,500 while the runner-up will get $3,000 and 23 silver medals.