Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive booked their place in the RBTT Intercol National semi-finals when they earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over San Juan Senior Comprehensive at the Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday.
The North Zone League and Intercol champs will now face South Zone Intercol runners-up Vessigny Government, who got past Scarborough on Friday to advance to the "semis".
Mucurapo did not look quite as sharp without some key players --- regular custodian Nigel Thomas, Antullah Guerra and Khaleem Hyland on National youth team duty, as well as defender Irvin Rollow on suspension---and were given a good battle by San Jua. However, the Mucurapo Road outfit found the mark when it mattered to seal the win in a somewhat subdued affair that did still produce some exciting moments.
Mucurapo signalled their intent early, their first shot on goal coming in the second minute from Nigel Arthur on the left flank. It went wide of the upright.
But San Juan did not take long to get into the act either, Anthony Guppy following suit at the other end. San Juan tried to take advantage of the slow pace of play from Mucurapo, but their defenders managed to break down most of the East team's promising plays in the first half.
Kadeem Gibbs had a good opportunity to get San Juan on the scoresheet in the 30th, but his header from six metres out was too high. Cyrano Glen could have put "Compre" ahead in injury time, but squandered a golden chance in the area, then headed wide to leave the scores at 0-0 at the half.
The second half saw more of the same, San Juan enjoying the better of the exchanges, incluuding a good solo run by Kerry Daniel down the left flank, but Terryl Elwin could not get his head to the cross that flew across the face of the goal.
But against the run of play, Mucurapo got the game winner in the 74th minute, when Christon Thompson ran past the centre circle and hammered home a long distance stunner that caught San Juan 'keeper Joseph John-Williams unawares.
This seemed to bring life into the Mucurapo camp, and they went on the attack for a second goal, causing some anxious moments for San Juan.
A late surge---including a blast from Elwin that thudded off the crossbar after he weaved his way into the area---would not do for San Juan though, as they could not cancel their opponents' single item by the final whistle. Compre will hope not to struggle quite so hard whe they face Vessigny later this week.
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