They could not describe their victory as a mauling. But St Anthony's College left nine-man El Dorado nursing their wounds from a 2-0 loss yesterday in the second BG T&T/First Citizens Secondary Schools Football League "Big Five" semi-final.
Jamali Garcia set "El Do" back with an 80th minute penalty after defender Justin Fournillier handled in the area and got a straight red card.
And two minutes later striker Garvin Samaroo finished the job with a smart run to put his team in consecutive Big Five finals.
St Anthony's will now meet Carapichaima in tomorrow's final from 5 p.m. at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva in a match between the only remaining unbeaten teams.
The first half could not separate the teams and perhaps rightly so. The Tigers' attacking flair caused a few headaches for the El Dorado defence, but at the other end they had to be watchful of Shaquille Bertrand and company, who looked assured and dangerous peeling forward on the break from midfield.
Both teams paid the opponents every respect in defence, although the Westmoorings outfit had the edge in the number of attempts on goal.
Kiel Pierre, in particular, impressed for St Anthony's with his searching runs in right midfield, while Keane McIvor also provided good support from the opposite flank.
El Dorado's best efforts came from the right and through the centre, including Bertrand's drive that St Anthony's goalkeeper, the dimunitive Jamaal Francois, had to tip one handed round his near post.
St Anthony's finished the first half stronger, but the score still read 0-0 at the break.
It was more Tigers after the resumption. In the first ten minutes of the second half they had three clear chances, including a drive from Samaroo that somehow Lucas was able to clear.
Dwight Quintero should have put El Dorado ahead in the 63rd on the fast break, yet completely missed the ball, even with Bertrand for support.
The match turned St Anthony's way for good once Fournillier handled off a corner trying to prevent Samaroo's header and Garcia chipped home the spotkick past Hakeem Lucas, the El Dorado goalkeeper.
Samaroo exploited the man advantage two minutes later, skipping past two men and driving home a ball that Lucas palmed into the far post.
Midfielder Keron Bethelemy was the second match casualty for El Do as he saw a second yellow in the 89th.
The Tunapuna team would have been disappointed to lose out after all their hard work, but the Tigers will march on.
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