Los Bajos United are the champions of the Southwest Superleague. On Sunday they defeated Newcomers in the final 4-3 on penalty kicks at the Apex Club Ground after the match ended goalless.
And afterwards captain Darryl Fortune said he was always confident his players would have won the contest and the$10,000 cash prize, trophy and medals that will go with it.
The men from Fyzabad had a point to prove after Newcomers defeated them early in the Superleague 3-0.
Playing in blue kits, Los Bajos thought they had one hand on the title when striker Daniel Garcia got past Leson Quashie on the right side of the penalty area but shot over.
Rasta hairstyled Dexter Joseph proved to be the only form of resistance for Newcomers in the encounter as he kept the Los Bajos defence on their toes.
However their first opportunity came when Quashie (Andre) galloped onto a through ball on the right and centred for Sadique Stewart who eluded his man before fumbling a shot to the goalkeeper.
Before the half-time interval Los Bajos again came close to hitting the target as Devon Clement found room on the right side but somehow saw his attempt blocked by a sliding Leson Quashie tackle.
The ball rebounded to him and he let-fly a powerful left-footer that sent Lake airborne to keep it out.
After the resumption Los Bajos intensified the pressure and really should have scored when Fredericks dribbled past Quashie on the right, but with only the goalkeeper to beat, he blazed it over.
Newcomers’ attacks had been minimal, but yet sufficient to keep the Los Bajos defence on their toes, otherwise the crowd had been screaming out for a Los Bajos goal, following the barrage of attacks that were being mounted on the Newcomers goal area.
Midway in the half Los Bajos thought they had gotten the winner when Garcia, during another one of his piercing runs down the left side, picked out Fredericks almost on the goal line, but the stocky striker failed to make contact on what appeared to be a certain goal.
Later Garcia and Fredericks combined for yet another attempt and again it led another missed opportunity for Los Bajos outfit. This time Garcia found himself free in the box and quickly released to Fredericks who, took aim, but his shot just whisked past the upright.
Nearing the end of the match Len Mejias got the opportunity to be a Fyzabad hero when he raced clear of the Newcomers’ defenders. But with only the goalie to beat, he too took aim and dragged his shot wide of the target.
In the penalty shoot-out Newcomers got goals from Sean Lee Fat, Anthony Parris and Quashie (Leson), while Garcia, Keston Pandohsingh, Kern Peters and Fredericks were the scorers for Los Bajos.