St Augustine Secondary defeated Carapichaima by 3-0 at the Larry Gomes Stadium, and kept their dream of capturing all four Secondary Schools Football titles alive by advancing to the semi-final of the National Intercol competition.
'Gustine' will face a more stern test when they meet South giants Naparima College in the Coca-Cola National Intercol semi-final being played on Thursday 26th November at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
The game was more evenly matched that the scoreline suggests, with Carapichaima actually enjoying more of the ball in the first half.
Despite their possession, 'Caps' failed to create any clear cut goal scoring opportunities against a very disciplined St. Augustine defense. Chances were also rare for St Augustine, but they did open the scoring in the first half when Dinell Lopez rose first to a corner to head the ball home.
St Augustine made two key switches in the second half as Coach Michael Grayson introduced substitutes Xavier Navarro and Aeion Charles. It was their introduction which changed the complexion of the match.
Aeion Charles scored the second goal when he got onto the end of a through ball from midfield, pushed forward into the penalty box and shot to goal. 'Caps' goalkeeper Akeel Alfred appeared to have the shot covered, but the ball took a wicked deflection off the Carapichaima last stopper before finding its way into the roof of the net.
The goal was a cruel blow to Caripichaima and the team lost their shape on the pitch as a result, allowing St Augustine to dominate proceedings with their swift counter attacks. The 'Caps' players began to show their frustration, and tempers began to flare, causing the referee to stop play for altercations as a result of off the ball incidents.
St Augustine never lost focus and sealed the victory when they got their third goal on another lethal counter attack.
This time it was Stefon Pierre who picked up the ball in midfield and ran through the heart of the Carapichaima defense and released a left footed strike in the bottom left hand corner of the goal, giving keeper Alfred no chance.
'Gustine' were through to the semi-finals, and for yet another season, Carapichaima failed reflect the same dominance they showed in the Central league, against opposition from other zones.
It wasn't all positive for St. Augustine though, as the victory came at a high price. 'Gustine' will have to face Naparima College without midfield maestro and skipper, Jevaughn Vance, who will miss the next game through suspension after picking up his second yellow card in consecutive games.
'Green Machine' cruise into semis.
By: Roger Seepersad (T&T Express).
St Augustine kept their quest for a clean sweep of titles alive when they defeated Carapichaima in a Coca Cola National InterCol quarterfinal fixture, at Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, yesterday.
’Gustine’, who lost to ’Caps’ at the same stage in last year’s tournament, were able to come away with a 3-0 victory this time around thanks to goals from Dinelle Lopez, substitute Aeion Charles and Stefon Pierre.
The ’Green Machine’ went ahead in the 32nd minute through a corner which Lopez headed into the back of the net after the Carapichaima keeper Akiel Alfred failed to clear. ’Gustine’ could have gone in front much earlier had skipper Jevaughn Vance done more with Vernell Ramirez’s 17th minute pass which left him with only the keeper and defender Dennis Hunte to beat. It was Hunte who came out on top as he made a crucial tackle to keep the Central champs in the game.
Carapichaima also had a good opportunity to go ahead three minutes earlier when Isiah Rivers’ cross was sent wide by Anton Gill, not troubling ’Gustine’ keeper Kerron Jones.
A defensive blunder in the 45th could have given the Green Machine a 2-0 lead at the half. Tevin Dick lost out to Ramirez just outside the penalty area, but Alfred was quickly off his line to make a close range save.
In the second period, however, Carapichaima were hit with a barrage of attacks from ’Gustine’ and it was only a matter of time before the East champs went 2-0 up.
The second goal came when Charles fought his way inside the penalty area and struck a fierce drive that Alfred had no chance of stopping.
And the nail in the coffin came three minutes from time, Pierre doing the honours after another breakdown at the back for Carapichaima. St Augustine will now face Naparima in the semifinal round on November 26.
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