St Benedict’s through to Intercol final with 4-3 penalty kicks win

Derrel “Zoom Zoom” Garcia scored once, and goalkeeper Tim Devonish made a double save to put St Benedict’s College into the final of the Secondary Schools Football League’s Coca-Cola National Intercol boys’ final with a 4-3 win over Signal Hill Secondary School from the penalty spot on Friday.

The Southerners, via the win, maintained their unbeaten run this season, and will now face Fatima College in the final on Thursday (December 5).

Garcia, at the heart of a registration issue that could render their efforts this season null and void, again showed up as early as in the opening third minute from a ball that set him unmarked inside the Signal Hill penalty area and he struck it powerfully into the roof of the net for a 1-0 St Benedict’s advantage.

The goal did not come as a surprise to gaping fans at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva as the Southerners were expected to win the match easily. However, the Tobagonians settled in the moments that followed and offered attacks of their own.

St Benedict’s, having secured the South Zone Intercol title from the penalty spot last week, enjoyed the position of ascendancy which saw them come close to their second goal in the 41st minute. Garcia, the target of most of his team’s passes in attack, got the edge of a ball that bounced awkwardly around the Signal Hill goal area, and before the Tobagonians could have cleared, a snap-shot from Garcia struck the crossbar with goalkeeper Rondell Marcelle totally beaten.

The teams moved to the break with St Benedict’s leading 1-0 but then Signal Hill forced a couple of free kicks, but Emmanuel Wright, who is usually dangerous from the set play, failed to get the ball past the St Benedict’s custodian.

However, with the match heading to the end, a foul on Wright in the St Benedict’s penalty area forced referee Khrystal Sobers to point to the penalty spot in the 90+5 minute. Wright then placed the ball perfectly out of the reach of Devonish for the 1-1 result at the end of regulation time.

The teams then went to a penalty shoot-out when Devonish saved Mickel Watkins and Kyle James’ attempts while St Benedict’s, up to that point had a perfect record to win, 4-3.

The final will be at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Thursday at 5 pm, following the girls final at 3 pm. The girls semifinals are on Sunday (December 1) between San Juan North Secondary and St Joseph’s Convent Port-of-Spain at San Juan North and Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School versus Pleasantville Secondary at Lewis Street. Both matches start at 3.30 pm.

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