For the second time in four editions of the KFC International Schools Under-18 Football tournaments, the prized champion trophy will travel out of Guyana, as Jamaica’s Clarendon College will match skills with Trinidad’s St. Benedict’s College in the final on December 22.
Both teams are undefeated in the tournament, but had contrasting semi-final victories on Tuesday evening at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
Clarendon, firm title favourites, continued their goal-scoring spree by defeating Voorgezet Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs Four (VWO-4) of Suriname 3-1.
Romarion Thompson (16th) and Daniel Clark (31st) gave the Jamaicans a comfortable lead at half-time, before Suriname responded via Justin Jackson in the 50th.
Clarendon put the game to bed when Deandrae Gallimore had an injury-time goal in the 92nd to seal the commanding win.
The second semi-final between St. Benedict’s and Chase Academic Foundation had fewer goals, but was an all-out battle.
Chase, the lone Guyanese team who remained in the tournament, kept a leash on the goal-proficient St. Benedict’s for most of the match.
It wasn’t until the third minute of additional time in the second half that Josiah Ochoa found a small opening that broke Chase’s heart and their supporters’ hearts.
On Friday, Clarendon will face St. Benedict’s College at 20:00h, while VW04 will take on Chase Academic Foundation for third from 18:00h.
The top school will cop a prize of US$2,500, followed by US$1,500 (second), US$1,000 (third) and US$500 (fourth).
Former champions D.C Caesar Fox Secondary (Waramadong), St. Ignatius Secondary, Bartica Secondary, and Carmel Secondary were the other participating teams in the tournament.
