The prolific Jamal Gay pounced on two defensive lapses and scored to lead El Dorado Senior Comprehensive to a 2-1 victory over St Mary’s College in extra-time in their Secondary Schools Football League national RBTT Inter-Col semi-final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, yesterday. Regulation time ended 1-1.
Against the run of play, Gay handed “El Do” the lead in the 34th minute when he capitalised on some poor defending by David Maloney.
He eluded Nicholas Walker, before firing the ball past an advancing Matthew Jardim, who was injured during the play.
Despite enjoying a lot of the ball, the “Saints” were still finding it difficult to break down the stubborn “El Do” defense but on the stroke of half-time, Walker thought he had redeemed himself when he headed past Hakeem Blake from a well flighted free-kick from national Under-17 midfielder Sean De Silva.
However, Saints joy was cut-short by an off-side flag and “El Do” took a 1-0 half-time lead into their dressing room.
On the resumption, the “Saints” picked up where they left off with De Silva, Leston Paul and captain Veer Lakhan controlling the midfield.
And their dominance was soon rewarded in the 53rd minute when Paul skilfully turned on his marker inside the area before firing past Blake on his near post with his less fancied left foot to draw his team level (1-1).
Ten minutes later, more sloppy work by St Mary’s defender Walker allowed Gay a golden opportunity which he wasted.
St Mary’s then had chances to take the lead in the 71st minute, through Paul and then striker Hakeem King.
However, after Blake stifled Paul’s attempt, King muffed his attempt from less than four yards out.
With less than six minutes left in the match, “Saints” again came close to going ahead in the match, with a header from Maloney off another De Silva corner, but this time, the cross-bar came to “El Do” rescue as the time expired with the scores even.
Eight minutes into the first period of extra-time Gay got what turned out to be the eventual winner when he ran onto a ball over defender Maloney, before pushing the ball wide of Walker and then lifting it over the advancing Jardim to silence the large blue and white section of the covered stands and lifting the voices of the less than 100 “El Do” supporters who were being entertained by tassa drums.
The second-half of extra-time period was much of the same as the “Saints” squandered a number chances, with Paul, King and Garcia all coming close, but the equaliser never came bringing an end to the “Saints” run, which began with being crowned champions of North Zone Senior Division league. For “El Do,” the win signalled one win away from its first national title in 21 years.
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