The "Green Machine" of St Augustine Secondary Comprehensive rolled into the Larry Gomes Stadium and over El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive to claim the RBTT InterCol East Zone title yesterday. Two second half goals were enough for a 2-1 victory at the Malabar venue after the "Blue Thunder" of El Dorado roared in the first half, to take a 1-0 lead into the break.
All is not lost for El Do, though. The East Zone runners-up will take on Scarborough Secondary at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago in Thursday's National quarter-finals, while St Augustine meet North Zone team Malick Secondary Comprehensive at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The other two quarters pit North InterCol winners St Mary's College against Presentation College San Fernando, also on Thursday at the Mucurapo Stadium, before South double title-holders Naparima College engage Carapichaima at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, on Friday.
It was El Do who delivered the initial shock in the opening period, with their go-to guy, Jamal Gay, landing the opening blow in just the 19th minute. With El Dorado on the counter-attack, St Augustine found themselves struggling to clear the ball, which fell conveniently for the dependable striker. He obliged, sending two defenders the wrong way before tapping in at close range.
Despite some desperate moments at the back, St Augustine managed to keep Gay and company at bay until half-time, as the supporters tried to motivate their players. Their customary chorus, "Oh the Green Machine of 'Gustine, we must win!" sung to the tune of "Coming 'round the mountain", didn't quite sound as convincing as it could have been.
But the introduction of Joseph at half-time paid almost immediate dividends for St Augustine coach Michael Grayson. Given enough space on the left side of the El Do penalty area, he had enough time to slot home a pass at goalie Hakeem Blake's far post.
Blake and the El Dorado defenders had a hard time keeping Joseph out of the penalty area, the former forced into a save from the wily striker at point-blank range.
They could not, however, 'keep out Kareem Paul's 64th minute blast into the far "vee", which gave St Augustine the lead they would take to the end of the match. Paul was challenged at the right of the area, but held on long enough to release a deadly, powerful strike that hit nothing but net.
The St Augustine crowd had a lot to sing about when the referee blew the final whistle, but they will have to put the victory aside to prepare for their next treacherous task against an unpredictable Malick outfit.
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