A lone first half strike from Josh Toussaint was enough to see underdogs Diego Martin record one of the upsets of the Trinidad Coca-Cola thus far, as he led the second-from-bottom league finishers to a 1-0 win over Fatima College in the North Zone’s quarterfinal, yesterday.
The result was equally shocking as the 2-1 come-from-behind victory secured by Trinity College over favourites East Mucurapo, in the second match of the national stadium’s double-header.
In the opening match-up, the right-footed Toussaint, who led his team in goals scored this season, recorded his all-important item in the 27th minute, with a deft left-footed shot outside the penalty area. It was a match where both teams were arguably even matched, despite Fatima winning the two league encounters by a combined 5-1 tally earlier in the campaign.
The win put Diego Martin into the North Zone semifinal, where it will meet the winner of Saturday’s quarterfinal clash St Anthony’s College and newly-promoted Malick Secondary, which will kick off at 3 pm, at the same venue. In the second match of yesterday’s double-header, Trinity, which finished the league campaign in last place, but held Mucurapo to two draws, came from a goal down to secure a famous win.
Aaqil Campbell, who scored many a match winner this season for East Mucurapo, put them ahead in the ninth minute. It was not long after that Trinity found the goal, which would spur it on to the eventual victory. Dominic Jangoo stepped up from the penalty spot. He took a soft strike which was parried by Aaron Enil, before Jangoo was successful on the rebound.
Mucurapo as it did during and after its goal, continued to dominate the match, and even against the run of play, again suffered a setback, when it fell 2-1 down in the 77th minute, from a clean hit high into the net from Stephan Spicer, which followed a set play.
It took some fine saves from shot stopper Christopher Matthaus and a strong Trinity back line, which prevented a comeback from the clever Mucurapo attack. But, it was Trinity’s day as they found a berth into the semifinal, where it meets either St Mary’s College and QRC. The latter two teams will meet in the second double-header on Saturday from 5 pm.
Today, action will open in the South Zone, where a double-header will take place at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. At 3 pm, league runner-up Shiva Boys will open its account against season-long winless team Moruga Secondary. In the second match at 5 pm, Naparima College will face Pleasantville.
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