WASA FC captured the first major title at stake in this year’s Emerald Apartments and Plaza sponsored Eastern Football Association with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Maloney FC in the FA final at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, on Saturday.
Maloney opened the scoring in the 14th minute through a clever movement between skipper Shurland David and Khalid Crichlow culminating in Crichlow putting the ball in the back of the net for a 1-0 lead which it took into the interval.
Five minutes into the second-half, Stephon Joseph leveled the score and Brian Martin got the eventual match winner in the 62nd minute of play.
Acting president of the EFA, Wayne Cunningham presented the winning club with the Emerald Apartments and Plaza FA Trophy, and 23gold medals and the $4,500 winners’ cheque while the loosing finalist received 23 silver medals and $3,000
Presentations were also made to the winning teams in the EFA Under-11 FA competition (Fulham) and Under-13 (Tunapuna Titans) during the half-time interval.
In the semifinal round, the “Water Boys” edged Carib FC 4-3 with Brian Martin (15th), Stefaan Joseph (30th), Joseph Peters (80th), Marvin Peters (85th) on target for the winner while Maloney slipped past Santa Rosa 5-4 on penalty-kicks after an entertaining 3-3 draw at the end of 120-minutes of football.
Both teams had battled to a 2-2 draw in regulation time. In regulation time, Hayden De Verteuil (11th), Jasimar Ahsers (8th) and national Under-17 captain Duane Muckette (116th) netted for Santa Rosa, while Maloney got its goals via Nathan Lewis (22nd), Keron Clarke (55th) and former national defender, Shurland David (94th).