Defending East Zone champions St Augustine moved closer to retaining the title, with a 4-2 win over arch rivals and national champions El Dorado in their Coca Cola Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Zonal Intercol semifinal, the second match of a double-header at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, yesterday.
In a re-match of last year’s final which Gustine won 1-0, the “Green Machine” showed their opponents they came to take care of business.
They took the lead through Zavion Navarro, however, El Do would level things just before the break from a Dwight Qunitero goal. The second half saw the title holders turn it on, as Kevin Seaburn, Theon James and Kyle Bartholomew finding the net.
El Dorado could only add one in this period from a Shaquille Bertrand strike as they came up short again. This means the “Blue Thunder” will not be defending their National Intercol title, leaving the door open for their east zone rivals and the likes of St Anthony’s, St Mary’s and Naparima.
Gustine will now meet Arima in Saturday’s final, whom they defeated in their semifinal clash last year 5-3 on penalty kicks after regulation play ended 1-1.
Arima got a similar win over San Juan North in the first match. Meanwhile a Neil Ogarro hat-trick helped Waterloo to a come from behind win over upstarts Couva in the feature match of a Central Zone semi-final double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
Ogarro gave his team the lead with his first goal in the fourth minute. However, a first half hat-trick from Jaffet Williams, in the 18th, 28th and 39th minutes, gave Couva which will be competing in the championship division next season, a 3-1 cushion at the break. Waterloo made it 3-2 in the 52nd minute compliments of a Dithare Newark item.
Then with eight minutes to go, Ogarro completed his heroics to deny Couva, a chance at the title after just winning the Senior Division title.
He found the net in the 82nd minute to level the score 3-3, before putting the icing on the cake two minutes later with the winning goal. Waterloo will now play defending champions Carapichaima in the final on Friday, after the latter hammered Tabaquite 4-0, with Shaquille Holder netting a hat-trick.
Yesterday’s Results
East
St Augustine 4 (Zavion Navarro, Kevin Seabrun, Theon James, Kyle Bartholomew) vs El Dorado 2 (Dwight Quintero 43rd, Shaquille Bertrand).
Arima 4 vs San Juan 2
Central
Carapichaima 4 (Denzil Gill 9th, Shaquille Holder 78th, 80th, 82nd) vs Tabaquite 0
Waterloo 4 (Neil Ogarro 4th, 82nd, 85th, Dithare Newark 52nd) vs Couva 3 (Jaffet Williams 18th, 28th, 39th)
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