GOREAN Highley netted a hat-trick on Sunday to send Xpress Overcome into the final of the Caribbean Welders Fishing Pond “9-a- side” Football League.
“Xpress” crushed North Oropouche 5-2 to setup a meeting with Boys Town in the final on Saturday with $15,000 at stake for the winner.
Kevin Daniel gave his team the lead in the 10th minute and Highley doubled the advantage seven minutes later.
Highley notched his second in the 22nd as “Xpress” put the game beyond reach of their opponents before the first half had even ended.
Highley was at it again in the second half with his third goal of the match and Dorean Daniel completed a five-star performance for Xpress Overcome with a goal in the 60th.
Andell Cummings pulled on back in the 65th and Akee Alvarez made it 5-2 five minutes later as North Oropouche’s fairytale run came to an end.
North Oropouche can still boast, however, of eliminating last year’s champs Quash Trace in the quarter-finals.
North Oropouche will now play Take That and Cool It at 1 pm on Saturday in the third/fourth playoff while Boys Town tackle Xpress Overcome two hours later.
The title match is expected to be a thriller as there has been little to separate the two teams throughout the competition.
They pair played to an exciting 2-2 draw in the round robin stage on October 2 with “Xpress” twice coming back from a goal down to ensure a share of the points.
The finals sees the league top two scorers — Highley (19) and Irvin Reyes (18) come up against each other to decide not only the league but also a personal battle for Most Goals.
Highley bagged a brace in that memorable 2-2 draw while Reyes had a double as well.