Naparima College moved to within one title of a Secondary Schools Football League clean sweep when they edged out Presentation College San Fernando 4-2 on kicks from the penalty mark in yesterday's RBTT InterCol final at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
St Anthony's College's "Tigers", meanwhile, will contest the North Zone final against North Zone champs Mucurapo Secondary Comprehensive on Friday after out-gunning Fatima College 2-1 at Fatima ground.
St Anthony's main goal threat, Qian Grovesnor delivered after nine minutes, and Fatima's Chad De Freitas equalised in the 24th for a 1-1 half-time scoreline. Travis Joseph netted the second half winner to send the Tigers into the National InterCol for the first time since their 2004 InterCol title triumph.
In Marabella yesterday however, Naps found they had a real fight on their hands. With a South title at stake, Pres who already had 3-0 and 1-0 losses at the feet of the "Big Five" champs this season, were not prepared to lie down.
This they showed with some pressure of their own after a good start from their more favoured opponents.
Pres had a great chance to go ahead in the 16th, but after Kerwin Stafford crossed following a wonderful solo run, the sliding Stephon Calliste missed the ball in front of goal by mere inches.
Naparima were a shade below their best, but certainly caused some alarms themselves, Akeems Grant beating three opposing defenders before finding Brandon Neptune in an offside position.
With five minutes to go in the first half, Naparima's Cory Cyrus missed a free header at point blank range that would have given his team the lead, while a fired up Pres failed to find the near post with Calliste, and Anslym Edmund drove the resultant loose ball wide.
In the second half Pres hung on through the early onslaught from Naparima. Naps' skipper Shahdon Winchester, back in the team from national Under-17 duty, could have handed them the advantage, but shot over from 12 metres. He then provided a pinpoint cross to Cyrus, who hesitated and was shut down.
Niether team could alter the scoreline in regulation time despite their hard work, so they went straight to spot-kicks.
When Winchester buried his kick past Presentation goalie Wesley Douglas, the scores were level at 2-2. Then Jugmohan came up big with back-to-back saves on either side of a successful Cory Cyrus kick, and then Dwayne Edwards roofed the winner to once again hand Naparima the crown.
Today, Carapichaima Senior Comprehensive and Waterloo High School will battle it out for the Central Zone Inter Col crown, while Scarborough Secondary and Signal Hill Senior Comprehensive will vie for the Tobago version.
See the goals on (schoolsoccernet.com)
Naparima 0 (4) vs Pres 0 (2)
Naparima Celebration
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