Cunupia FC kept hold of its Central Football Association Ramsingh Sports World FA trophy after edging past Harlem Strikers 4-3 on penalty-kicks following a 0-0 draw in their final at New Settlement Ground, Chaguanas on Thursday.
With the win, Cunupia FC pocketed the prestigious FA title and $3,000 while Strikers, which saw two of its penalties hit the cross-bar collected $2,000. The two finalists will be joined in the T&T Football Association (T&TFA) FA competition carded to kick-off later this year by Enterprise Life Sports which spanked Arawak Combined FC 3-1 in the third place playoff, played prior to the final.
Enterprise Life Sports took a 26th minute lead through Akil Nicholas but on the stroke of half-time Richard Seetahal drew Arawak level. On the resumption, both teams went in search of the go-ahead goal which eventually came for Enterprise in the 68th minute via the boot of Kassim Kellar while Josiah Richards sealed the issue ten minutes from the final whistle.
In the semifinals on Monday at Frederick Settlement, Caroni, Lester Joseph fired in a second-half hat trick as Cunupia FC hammered Enterprise Life Sports 6-1.
Joseph found the target in the 52nd, 82nd and 83rd minute while the trio of Nical Stephens (14th), club captain Dillon Walker (50th) and Marcus Ellis (70th) added one each for the winners to cancel out Akil Nicholas’ consolation Enterprise Life Sport in the 59th. On the other hand, Harlem Strikers was handed a 3-0 semifinal win over Arawak Combined FC by the CFA’s Tournament & Competition Committee after their semifinal was abandoned with the scores locked at 1-1 after 60 minutes.
In a release from CFA general secretary Stephen Bartholomew, it was stated that match referee Oswald Myers asked Roger Campbell, the player/coach of Arawak Combined FC to leave the technical area on the sidelines because of his abusive language, however he refused, which forced Meyers to call of the rest of the match.
The matter was then heard by the CFA’s Tournament & Competition Committee on Tuesday night after which a decision was taken to award the match to Strikers, while the actions of Campbell and his possible sanctions will be determined by the CFA Disciplinary Committee.
Campbell could face a possible lengthy ban as he was also previously red carded during one of his team’s matches prior to the incident in the FA semifinals at Frederick Settlement, Caroni on Monday night and his matter will be discussed at an emergency meeting on Wednesday.
The CRIL-sponsored CFA Premier Division League competition will resume on Tuesday with four matches, including unbeaten leaders Cunupia going after a third straight win, when they face Leeds FC at Hugo Francis Recreation Ground, 7pm.
Thursday’s CFA Ramsingh Sports World FA
Finals
Cunupia FC 0 vs Harlem Strikers 0 - Cunupia FC won 4-3 on penalty-kicks
Third place
Enterprise Life Sport 3 (Akil Nicholas 26th, Kassim Kellar 68th, Josiah Richards 80th) vs Arawak Combined FC 1 (Richard Seetahal 45th)
CRIL CFA Premier Division matches:
Tuesday September 2:
Arawak FC vs Enterprise Life Sport, Hugo Francis Recreation Ground, 5pm
Cunupia FC vs Leeds FC, Hugo Francis Recreation Ground, 7pm
Enterprise Youths vs Harlem Strikers, African Recreation Ground, 6pm
Edinburgh 500 vs Extrafoods Chaguanas FC, Edinburgh 500 Recreation Ground, 6pm
Saturday September 6:
Leeds vs Edinburgh 500, Hugo Francis Recreation Ground, 5pm
Arawak vs Enterprise Youths, Hugo Francis Recreation Ground, 7pm
Enterprise Life Sport vs Cunupia, African Recreation Ground, 6pm
Sunday September 7:
Harlem Strikers vs Perseverance United, Fredrick Settlement Recreation Ground, 5pm.