Jaric Titans joined Trendsetter Hawks, Petit Valley/Diego Martin United and Prisons FC as qualifiers to the Pizza Hut Elite (Under-17) Division ‘Big-Four’ of the Republic Bank National Youth League with a 3-1 defeat of Crown Trace FC on Saturday.
The trio of Dominic Alfred (5th), Kylon Braithwaite (39th) and Juvani Thomas(67th) were all on target for Titans in the win before Jevonte Stewart netted a 69th-minute consolation for the losers.
The win ensured Titans ended with 13 points from seven matches on the eight-team table, eight behind table-toppers Hawks and behind Petit Valley/Diego Martin on goal-difference while Prisons FC was fourth with 12 points.
The zonal battle for national quarterfinals will go into the final round in the North, East, South and Tobago zones.
In the 11-team North Zone, Queen’s Park Cricket Club with 25 points from nine matches are certain of qualification while the trio of Pro Series (22), Trendsetter Hawks I (21), and Football Factory (16) from eight, nine and eight matches respectively are competing for the two other spots
The duo of Trendsetter Hawks II (12 pts) and Trendsetter Hawks I (12 pts) have already qualified for the national playoffs from the six-team North Zone U-13 Holiday Snacks Division while in the Pizza Hut U-15s competition, Santa Cruz United with 15 points from seven matches joined Trendsetter Hawks I and RSSR, both with 21 pts from seven matches as the teams advancing on the nine-team table.
In the East Zone U-11 competition, SKHY FC leads the ten-team table with 19 points from eight matches, level with Febeau Government which has played a match more while La Horquetta XY (17), FC Ginga (15) and Matura United (11) are all still in the fight for two playoff spots.
In the U-13s FC Santa Rosa with 13 points from five matches and Matura United, (ten), which got second ahead of Trincity Nationals based on head-to-head results, a 1-0 outcome qualified to the nationals.
And in the U-15s, FC Ginga and Trincity Nationals secured the two qualifications spot with 16 points each from their six matches, four more than FC Santa Rosa.
Down South, Gasparillo Youths has completed its six-match schedule in the Under-11 age-group with 13 points, the same as Brick House Sports which has a match left to play and can still be caught by Marabella Family Crisis Centre (11) and Pt Fortin Youth FA (ten) all with a match left in the quest for two qualification places.
In the U-13s, Pt Fortin Youth F.A sits atop the standings with 15 points from five matches, two more than Giving Back FC and San Fernando SA, the latter of which has completed its campaign while Darius Coaching School with eight points and two matches left still has a chance as well to be among the three qualifiers.
Moruga FC with nine points from five matches, and Giving Back, also with nine, but from four matches lead the qualification battle in the Under-15 Division with two spots at stake while Ste Madeleine Strikers with eight points, and Pleasantville Secondary and Gasparillo Youths, both on seven are in the mix.
Over in Tobago, Jaric Titans heads the race for the Under-11 lone qualifying spot with maximum 12 points from four matches, three ahead of Ball Blasters Academy with one match left.
However, its much closer in the Under-13s as Titans and Brother Ry's Coaching School are locked on ten points from four matches, one more than Ball Blasters with one round left to play.
And in the Under-15s, Eagles sit at the top with maximum 12 points, two ahead of Titans with one match to play as well this weekend.