Mucurapo had every reason to celebrate yesterday when they defeated St Mary's College 4-3 at Serpentine Road to claim the BG T&T Secondary Schools Football League North Zone title and leap into the National finals.
CIC had to give themselves a lot of credit, though, as they made "Compre" fight all the way in what may have been their toughest match of the season.
Mucurapo settled early on and went ahead in the 19th minute through Khaleem Highland, running onto the ball, passing off, collecting again and slotting past CIC 'keeper Kendall Latchman.
In the 43rd, Mucurapo got their second from Richard Roy, as he collected in the penalty area and placed under Latchman.
But CIC would go into the dressing room on a high, Aldo Hope running in from the left and chipping Mucurapo custodian Nigel Thomas to greet the interval at 2-1.
CIC equalised four minutes after the restart, as an unmarked Jake O'Brien headed a pass to Thomas' right in the 49th minute. Then the home team took the lead with a fine solo effort by Stuart Rahael in the 60th minute, as he ran down the right flank and surprised Thomas from about 21 metres out, drilling home into the left vee.
Cyrano Glenn pulled Mucurapo level in the 71st minute, hitting a shot that snuck in the right vee and rebounded out.
Then Armstrong took advantage of confusion in CIC's penalty area to stab home a loose ball and give his team a shot at National SSFL glory.