El Do shock Pres, book final four spot

After a perfect four from four shots, Keron Bethelmy missed ’El Do’s’ final effort, but goalkeeper Christian Edwards saved two ’Pres’ kicks, the first from Rodney Young, and the last from Kevin Moodie, to spare El Dorado’s blushes and send them into the final four after a 2-2 regulation time score.

Goals by Shaquille Smith and Daneil Cyrus helped El Dorado survive 90 minutes, after captain Wesley John and Amare Thomas had helped Pres take the lead after they had fallen behind early.

Before Presentation even had time to settle, they conceded due to hesitant defending. On five minutes, national youth player Cyrus shrugged of the half-hearted challenges of a few defenders, and muscled his way towards the 18-metre box, before slipping the ball to Smith who had the simple task of shooting past Wesley Douglas in Pres’ goal.

Despite the early advantage, El Dorado played rather negatively in the first half, sitting back and waiting for the counter attack.

This allowed Pres to push forward as they desperately sought the equaliser before half-time.

Pres striker Tristan Khan was the main offender. He missed at least three clear chances--a 23rd minute blast that rocked the near post, and another in the 35th that flashed past the far post.

Thomas collected the ball at the penalty spot after a defensive mix up, but hit wide, before John showed his teammates how to get it done with a perfect drive past Edwards from the top of the 18-metre box after a pass by Young to lead his team in level at the break.

Barely a minute had gone by after the match resumed when Pres went ahead, Thomas delivering a rocket from outside the area that surprised Edwards, and the South champs had a 2-1 lead.

They piled the pressure on, trying to put the result beyond doubt. But against the run of play and all the pressure, found themselves on equal terms again after giving up a free kick at the edge of the area in the 66th. Cyrus stepped up with a beauty that dipped at the last minute, completely fooling Douglas as it slipped through his attempted swat, onto the underside of the crossbar and over the line.

John could have put Pres back ahead but he twice headed onto the crossbar.

Regulation time ended with the teams deadlocked at 2-2, although Keelon Joseph forced a late save from substitute Pres ’keeper Terrence Ramsaroop. But El Do held their nerves when it mattered, and Edwards kept Pres out to send his team through.

El Dorado to face St Mary’s in semifinals.
By: Kevin Sunich (T&T Guardian).

Custodian Christian Edwards was the hero as El Dorado East ended Presentation South’s season with a 4-3 win on penalty kicks in their Secondary Schools Football League 2009 Coca Cola National Intercol quarterfinal match at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, yesterday.

Edwards saved kicks from Rodney Young and Kevin Moodie who had a chance to level the score at 4-4 after the south zone champs penalty kicks specialist custodian Terrence Ramsaroop blocked Keron Bethelmy’s kick. Pres had but only itself to blame as it failed to convert countless opportunities.

The match started at a fast pace with both teams looking for the opening item, but it was the “Blue Thunder” that took the early advantage. National youth player Daneil Cyrus picked up the ball on a counter attack, dribbled past four Pres players before releasing Shaquille Smith on the far left.

Smith collected the ball cleanly and travelled into the box before sending a shot past Custodian Wesley Douglas to make it 1-0 in the 5th minute. The south champs went after the equalizer, however its marksmen especially Tristan Khan seemed to be just wide of the mark on most of the attempts.

It would, however, get a boost heading into the second half as captain Wesley John fired a low shot from outside the 18-yard box, which left Edwards helpless in the goal to make it 1-1 in time added on.

Pres came out in the second period still on a high after scoring on the stroke ofthe first half, and on its second attack took the lead. Amare Thomas received a pass just outside the box on the left side and fired a bomb which left Edwards as a spectator in the 47th minute to make it 2-1.

This goal seemed to have taken the wind out of El Do and Pres was looking set for the semis as it continued to run at its opponents defence at will. They, however, continued to miss chances, which eventually turned around to haunt them as El Do pulled one out of the blues.

Against the run of play Cyrus on one of the east zone runners-up few attacks up to this point, was fouled on the left side just outside the 18-yard box in the 65th minute.

He stepped up to take the free kick in the 66th and sent a shot which sailed just over the hands of Douglas and into the right side of the net to make it 2-2. This goal brought back life into the El Do players and its small group of supporters. Pres on the other hand went in search of the winner, with a number of runs, and would count itself a touch unlucky after not being awarded a penalty for a handled ball in the box.

But in the end the “Blue Thunder” which had all but one of its players in its half ofthe field, was able to hold on until the end of regulation time. El Do will now face north zone league champs St Mary on Tuesday in semifinal action.

Yesterday’s Results

EL DORADO 2 (Shaquille Smith 5th, Daneil Cyrus 66th) vs PRESENTATION 2 (Wesley John 46th, Amare Thomas 47th).
El Do won 4-3 on penalty kicks.