El Dorado to face St Mary’s in semifinals by Kevin Sunich

Published: 19 Nov 2009

Custodian Christian Edwards was the hero as El Dorado East ended Presentation South’s season with a 4-3 win on penalty kicks in their Secondary Schools Football League 2009 Coca Cola National Intercol quarterfinal match at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, yesterday. Edwards saved kicks from Rodney Young and Kevin Moodie who had a chance to level the score at 4-4 after the south zone champs penalty kicks specialist custodian Terrence Ramsaroop blocked Keron Bethelmy’s kick. Pres had but only itself to blame as it failed to convert countless opportunities. The match started at a fast pace with both teams looking for the opening item, but it was the “Blue Thunder” that took the early advantage. National youth player Daniel Cyrus picked up the ball on a counter attack, dribbled past four Pres players before releasing Shaquille Smith on the far left.

Smith collected the ball cleanly and travelled into the box before sending a shot past Custodian Wesley Douglas to make it 1-0 in the 5th minute. The south champs went after the equalizer, however its marksmen especially Tristan Khan seemed to be just wide of the mark on most of the attempts. It would, however, get a boost heading into the second half as captain Wesley John fired a low shot from outside the 18-yard box, which left Edwards helpless in the goal to make it 1-1 in time added on. Pres came out in the second period still on a high after scoring on the stroke ofthe first half, and on its second attack took the lead. Amare Thomas received a pass just outside the box on the left side and fired a bomb which left Edwards as a spectator in the 47th minute to make it 2-1.

This goal seemed to have taken the wind out of El Do and Pres was looking set for the semis as it continued to run at its opponents defence at will. They, however, continued to miss chances, which eventually turned around to haunt them as El Do pulled one out of the blues. Against the run of play Cyrus on one of the east zone runners-up few attacks up to this point, was fouled on the left side just outside the 18-yard box in the 65th minute. He stepped up to take the free kick in the 66th and sent a shot which sailed just over the hands of Douglas and into the right side of the net to make it 2-2. This goal brought back life into the El Do players and its small group of supporters. Pres on the other hand went in search of the winner, with a number of runs, and would count itself a touch unlucky after not being awarded a penalty for a handled ball in the box. But in the end the “Blue Thunder” which had all but one of its players in its half ofthe field, was able to hold on until the end of regulation time. El Do will now face north zone league champs St Mary on Tuesday in semifinal action.

Yesterday’s Results

EL DORADO 2 (Shaquille Smith 5th, Daniel Cyrus 66th) vs PRESENTATION 2 (Wesley John 46th, Amare Thomas 47th); El Do won 4-3 on penalty kicks.