ST JOHN UNITED became the first club to advance to the quarter-finals of the Eddie Hart Football League (EHFL) knockout campaign via kicks from the spot, following a 1-1 scoreline with Arouca Hustlers at the conclusion of the full and extra-time periods at Eddie Hart Savannah in Tacarigua on Friday night.
In the sessions preceding the shoot-out, both teams had an even share of the exchanges. But it was the two custodians who caught the eye on the night.
They traded brilliant save after brilliant save to deny each other’s strikers the opportunity of scoring to allow the balanced contest go its full distance.
This was the first affair of this phase to be decided by penalty kicks and the fourth that needed extra time, while Hustlers joined the list of Big Eight qualifiers taking their departure from the KO segment.
Others on the list are Pacemakers and their neighbours MAASH Internationals.
On Thursday night, Samba Boys kept a southern presence in the thick of things with a commanding 4-1 triumph over Dingle Boys, despite having to come-from-behind.
After a slow start, the men in blue recovered from an early goal by Maurice Rubain to overwhelm a plucky Dingle Boys outfit, who showed real fighting spirit throughout the season.
Quami Knights notched a brace and Jessie Downing and Jonathan Marcelle added the other goals for Samba Boys, who were chalking up their eighth victory from nine outings in all competitions. In another result, Paradise FC laboured before overpowering St Joseph United 4-0 in an unenterprising match-up.
K Williams scored twice, while there was a goal each for J Belgrave and L Joseph in the sloppy win for  Paradise, who performed way below the standard they set at the tail-end of the regular season to book a  place in the last eight.
Former champions Parliament also looked unimpressive in edging underdogs Petit Bourg Youths 1-0 to extend their poor season to the next round.
Kevin James delivered for Parliament, who beat their opponents for the second time this season.
Arsenal progressed to the next stage with a hard-fought 3-2 triumph over Temple United in extra time, after a 2-2 score sheet at the conclusion of normal time.
Neil Mitchell grabbed a pair and skipper Akel James got one for the Santa Cruz-based side to claim a well-earned place in the next round.
Enrique Layne and K Jamerson scored for the Arima Boys, who exhibited a determined attitude in this campaign.
ES Madrid ended woeful Trincity Nationals’ season with a 1-0 victory. Claude Brusco contributed the item for Madrid.
The loss meant that Nationals finished the season with eight loses from nine games in all competitions.
In a rescheduled affair, rank outsiders 1TTR BN surprised everyone by edging North Hill 1-0 to open their winning account in all competitions this season from nine games. Garth Sebro was the hero for the Cumuto-based squad, who finished last in Group Two.