Odelle 'Raul' Armstrong scored a second-half double to lead St Francois Nationals to a come-from-behind win over Miscellaneous Laventille United in the 2019 Northern Football Association (NFA) Cup season opener at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Training Field, Mucurapo on Wednesday night.
Shaquille John fired the reigning NFA Premier Division champions, Miscellaneous Laventille United ahead in the 22nd minute which they took into the half-time interval on a cold and damp evening.
However, in the second half, Armstrong drew knockout title holders, St Francois Nationals on level terms in the 69th minute and eight-minute later, he fired in the go-ahead strike, which turned out to be the decider.
Before the NFA Cup which featured league champions Miscellaneous Laventille and knockout winners, St Francois, Petit Valley/Diego Martin United crushed North Coast FC, 4-0 in the Under-20 Division final with Shervhonez Hamilton netting a double, in the 44th and 68th minutes.
Akel La Borde (40th) and Ian Cowie (71st) added the other goals for Petit Valley/Diego Martin Under-20s.
This year, 18 clubs are competing in the NFA two major competitions, the Premier Division and Championship Division, with Seekers FC set to make its debut in the latter.
On Friday night, the FA Trophy competition will get going with Petit Valley/Diego Martin meeting Trendsetter Hawks at Dibe Recreation Ground, Long Circular, St James, 7 pm.
NFA Cup fixtures - Round-of-32
Today
Petit Valley/Diego Martin Utd vs Trendsetter Hawks, Dibe Recreation Ground, Long Circular, St James, 7 pm.
Round-of-16
Tomorrow
Belmont FC vs Cultural Roots United, New Grd, Queen's Park Savannah, 3.30 pm
Patna/River Estate vs Combined Forces, TSTT Grd, Queen's Park Savannah, 3.30 pm
Paramin FC vs Malvern SC, Malvern Grd, Queen's Park Savannah, 3.30 pm
On Sunday
Miscellaneous Laventille United vs Cantaro FC, New Ground, Queen's Park Savannah, 3.30 pm
St Francois Nationals vs Morvant Elements, TSTT Grd, Queen's Park Savannah, 3.30 pm
Seekers FC vs Harvard SC, Malvern Grd, Queen's Park Savannah, 3.30 pm
Tuesday, August
Petit Valley/Diego Martin Utd vs Trendsetter Hawks winner vs RSSR
Front Line vs North Coast FC