NOT even a tense shoot-out from the penalty mark could stop St Anthony's College from adding the 2011 Coca Cola InterCol North Zone title to their trophy cupboard.
It was like watching a game of Russian roulette at the Hasely Crawford Stadium's western end after a 0-0 regulation time scoreline, but Mucurapo blinked first and the "Tigers" edged home 5-4 to decide the battle of attrition that took place over 90 minutes.
Mucurapo's one fault was a miss by right winger Kevin Lewis, his placement allowing Jamaal Francois, the Tigers's captain and goalie, to get his left hand to the ball.
Shaquielle Long, who came into the match to replace suspended left back Johnathan Cruickshank, buried the final kick and raced off in celebration, which ended with his team dousing coach Nigel Grosvenor with the contents of their Gatorade cooler.
For Mucurapo, who played with heart against unbeaten St Anthony's, it was little consolation that they held their rivals to their first shut-out over 90 minutes for the season, as the Tigers maintained their perfect record.
On Thursday they will play the winners of today's national quarter-final between defending champions Signal Hill of Tobago and South winners Presentation College at Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet.
In truth, but for near misses on both ends and a trio of brilliant saves from valiant Mucurapo goalkeeper Dwayne Thomas, the match might not have needed that decisive contest.
It was not the best of first halves for either team, perhaps aided by the nerves of playing in a final and the outfield that only an hour before kick off had been soaking up rain, which flooded neighbouring parts of west Port of Spain.
Although the Tigers looked slightly better in their passing and ball control, Mucurapo made sure it was not a one-sided first half contest.
St Anthony's were able to find more goalmouth action, with strikers Adrian Millette and Darryl Trim missing out on at least three good looks at goal and left winger Keane McIvor trying his luck from distance.
At the other end of the pitch, Mucurapo, led by the hard-working Aaqil Campbell—who even came back to help defend—were unable to make use of a few lapses at the back from the Tigers. Other than that, they took aim at Francois's goal from distance.
The best chance before the half came from Millette in the 35th, but he hit the side-netting on his second try at the near post, despite having Mucurapo keeper Thomas scrambling to block the shot.
The second half was a notch above the first in intensity, but St Anthony's had the edge and a number of opportunities to open the scoring. Mucurapo looked dangerous until they reached the penalty area and their emphasis seemed to be on keeping the Tigers out, with Campbell the only player deep for much of the period.
Millette seemed to have left his scoring boots at school--he hit the near "vee" off a cross from Kiel Pierre out on the right wing and another before he was substituted in the 74th.
Trim too was guilty when he failed to pull the trigger in the 55th, while central defender Dwight Ceballo sent one over from close range.
Garvin Samaroo, the replacement striker for Millette, came on with 15 minutes left and drew two brilliant saves out of Thomas, while also hitting the side netting in the 83rd.
Mucurapo's two shots from inside the penalty area both came from Campbell, but he needed better accuracy to beat Francois.
Not even four minutes of stoppage time could separate the teams, sending them directly to a spot-kick shootout.
And after edging their opponents from the penalty mark, the Westmoorings Tigers survive to fight another day.
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