The National Under-20 men’s football team and a Tobago X1 both emerged winners on Friday’s opening night of the San Fernando Mayor’s Cup at Skinner Park.
The Tobago representative team were 4-1 winners over Morgua Samba Youths, while a lone Abayomi George goal gave the National Under-20 team a 1-0 win over South champions Pitchmen of La Brea. Careless defending saw George strip the last defender of the ball and score from close-up in just the 15th minute for the only goal of the match.
Meanwhile, Samba Youths led 1-0 from Emmanuel Bain’s 26th minute back post tap-in, but were level at 1-1 in the 33rd minute Darreon Moses headed in Miguel George’s in-curling corner-kick for the Tobago side.
Tobago were ahead at 2-1 three minutes into first half added-on time, with Keanu Boatswain tapping in a gift at the far post. A Samba Youths defensive mix-up saw both defender and goalkeeper leaving the ball for each other, allowing an opponent to gather and find Boatswain free on the far post.
Moses Bernard shot low across the penalty area, wrong-footing the goalkeeper for 3-1 in the 70th minute, and Omar Daniel got a fourth in the 87th minute, running into the left side of the penalty area under pressure, but finishing with a straight, low shot.
The competition continues this afternoon with first round winners Tobago and the National Under-20s clashing at Skinner Park from 6 p.m., followed by a South derby between Pitchmen and Samba Youths. These two teams ended the 2023 SFA season Big Six tied on points, before Pitchmen were declared back-to-back champions on goal-difference.
RESULTS:
Tobago 4 (Darreon Moses, Keanu Boatswain, Moses Bernard, Omar Daniel) Moruga Samba Youths 1 (Emmanuel Bain 26th)
T&T U20 (Abayomi George) Pitchmen F.C. 0
SAN FERNANDO MAYOR’S CUP STANDINGS:
TEAMS P W D L GF GA GD PTS
Tobago Rep. 1 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3
T&T U20 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
Pitchmen F.C. 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
Mor/Tab Samba Youths 1 0 0 1 1 4 -3 0
SOURCE: T&T Express