The lads of Lodge Secondary School have ended the 100% record of Trinidad’s Shiva Boys Hindu College with a 3-0 triumph on penalty kicks to set up a mega clash with Annai Secondary in the final of the second KFC Goodwill Under-18 School Football tournament.
The unexpected occurred on Friday evening at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
Based on previous performances, reigning champions Shiva Boys were all but certain to make it to the final, however, Lodge Secondary had other plans.
They played the physical game needed and had quick counterattacks. Albeit, no side found the back of the net, there was no shortage of close chances.
A usually attacking force, Lodge played more a patient game and got more bodies behind the line to counter the menacing Trinidadians.
In fact, their playmaker Dorwin George was often alone at the front but the tactics worked, since the Trinidadians who are accustomed to getting early goals, were frustrated.
Playing victorious in the nine weeks of the GuyOil School League also proved to be beneficial since during extra time, they hardly had any tired legs.
George struck a perfect first penalty, and teammate Rashad Roberts saved the other. Shiva Boys went on to miss their next two and the celebrations went wild for Lodge.
In the other blockbuster semi-final, Waramadong Secondary were left harping over what will it take to defeat nemesis, Annai Secondary, after the latter edged to a 2-1 victory.
Annai wasted little time to silence the sizable crowd which came to support Waramadong, with Vito Cambrige scoring in just the first minute.
The seesaw kept swinging and eight minutes later, Ovid Andrews made it level for Waramadong.
A tantalising first half continued, but they were no more goals.
The second half had the most ‘ooh’ and ‘aww’ since it was hitting the bars or required some acrobatic saves from the keepers to keep it out, especially from Annai’s Leston Smith.
It took a cracking curler from Raul Sway in the 65th for Annai to return to the driver’s seat.
Until the final whistle they were kept on their heels via some promising offensive plays, but where the back line failed ‘Superman’ Smith kept Waramadong out.
The third-place will feature Shiva Boys and Waramadong from 17:00h followed by the final from 19:00h.
Both matches will be held Sunday at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
